A solicitor who was tricked into a pnds stlg 400,0

A solicitor who was tricked into a pnds stlg 400,000 property deal by a ‘fantasist’ posing as a wealthy divorcee was suspended for three months today (Tuesday).

Bankrupt Robin Clapp, 62, fell under the woman’s spell when she told him she was desperate for a farm to house her herd of ponies.

But she failed to pay him the money and he lost pnds stlg 40,000 of his firm’s money putting up the deposit.

Clapp told the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal he could not explain why he had exchanged the contracts based only on her assurance.

But he admitted he had misrepresented the situation to another solicitor.

He was also punished by the committee for an accounts shortfall at his firm Robin Clapp and co of [139] High Street, Herne Bay, Kent.

Chairman Richard Bamford said the committee was happy he had not acted dishonestly.

‘These are very serious matters.

The accounts rules are in place to safeguard the public and the allegation of misrepresentation is the most serious.

But we want to give you a chance in the future.

‘

Andrew Miller, acting for the Law Society, said Clapp was approached by a ‘fraudster or fantasist’ last year.

‘A client going under the alias Deborah Reid instructed him to act for a property in Lincolnshire.

‘It was to be a pnds stlg 400,000 cash purchase as she said she had recently received a substantial divorce settlement.

‘Mr Clapp came under pressure to exchange contracts as the property was soon to go to auction.

‘He exchanged contracts on the basis he held the ten per cent deposit.

‘At the point of the purchase he held no money although he was assured it had all been telegraphed to his client bank account.

‘No money from the client ever emerged after completion and all Mr Clapp received was a series of deceptive excuses.

‘It was claimed she had died in hospital during surgery but this was found not to be true.

‘He made a statement to police but the woman has never been traced.

He was unable to produce the forty thousand and he was adjudicated bankrupt as a result.

‘

An inspection in November 1999 had also revealed a shortfall in accounts of pnds stlg 2,375, he added.

The annual account report had not been completed since August 1997 because he owed the accountants pnds stlg 3,000.

Clapp said he had become bankrupt in January this year due to the size of his debts.

‘I am here before you in considerable difficulties.

‘My problems are largely self-inflicted but at no time have I ever acted in other than a purely professional way.

‘I was severely depressed, worried and concerned and I sincerely regret the problems I have caused.

‘This woman told me she had a herd of small ponies which she needed to rehouse and was desperate to get a farm.

‘It was on the strength of her assurance that I fell into the trap of exchanging contracts.

‘I still suggest I am a good and honest solicitor.

The only thing I want to do is continue working.

‘

He admitted the allegations of paying client money into the office account, withdrawing money from the client account towards costs without a written bill or intimation, withdrawing clients’ moneys exceeding the total held for that client, holding monies received by way of disbursements for longer than the permitted period, failing to promptly file annual accounts reports, and inducing another solicitor to affect the exchange of contracts by a misrepresentation.

Clapp, of [134] Grand Drive, Herne Bay, was suspended for three months from today and ordered to pay pnds stlg 5,110.

22 costs.

The Law Society are to ensure he will only be able to work in approved employment or partnership.

ends