Stevenson, 43, was hit with a massive pnds stlg 25

Stevenson, 43, was hit with a massive pnds stlg 25,000 fine and ordered to pay all the Law Society’s costs, which will amount to tens of thousands of pounds.

The chairman of the panel, Mr John Clitheroe described Stevenson’s behaviour as ‘disgraceful.

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Although he had not been deliberately fraudulent he had taken ‘unfair advantage’ of the mortgage holders and the panel found the letters were intimidatory.

‘The tribunal is satisfied that properly as a first step the respondent should have written to the lessees,’ Mr Clitheroe said.

‘The whole tenor, purpose and object of these letters was in our view to recover the money claimed.

‘His failure to keep any basic records, which in our view any reasonable solicitor would have done, is astonishing.

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When he gave evidence Stevenson had avoided ethical questions by repeatedly returning to a debate on the legal points, the chairman added.

‘He blindly convinced himself of the rights of his views and would put no challenge to them.

Mr Clitheroe added: ‘Although the tribunal has not been satisfied the allegation of fraud and deceit is proved, the respondent’s conduct over this short time in 1993 was disgraceful, largely due to his intransigent belief of his own rightness.

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Earlier Mr Frederic Reynold, QC, defending (corr) reminded the panel Stevenson’s father had died the night before the hearing started.

He said bachelor Stevenson, who sent the letters to lenders in the Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool areas in 1993, has been waiting since then to learn his fate.

‘To some extent it has knocked the stuffing out of him,’ Mr Reynold said.

Stevenson refused to comment as he left the hearing.

ends

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