A trainee solicitor paid out pnds stlg 87,000 to a

A trainee solicitor paid out pnds stlg 87,000 to a dead man’s relatives – when there was just 16p in the account.

Bungling John Jeffrey handed over five cheques to the beneficiaries of the client’s estate while his boss was on holiday.

When the manager returned, he was horrified to discover the error – and sacked Jeffrey.

Now the clerk has been banned from working in the legal profession by a Law Society ruling.

Jeffrey was employed as a clerk and trainee at Simkins Solicitors, of High Street, Baldock, Herts, when the blunder happened.

While his boss was on holiday in July 1998, Jeffrey procured five cheques totalling pnds stlg 87,000 for the three sons of a client referred to as Mr B.

Rosemary Rollason, for Law Society, told the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal in central London: ‘There were not enough funds available to cover these payments.

‘When the manager checked the client fund ledger, he found that only 16p was available.

‘

It was at first thought that Jeffrey had written the cheques himself, and then got another partner at the firm to sign them.

But further investigation revealed a signature purporting to be that of the boss was on the cheques, even though he was on holiday at the time.

Miss Rollason added: ‘When he spoke to Mr Jeffrey, the clerk said the funds from the estate had been received and should have been banked.

‘There was no evidence to support that claim.

‘

Jeffrey was later sacked from the firm, and the Law Society was called in.

The money has since been replaced by a different firm of solicitors after the sale of some of Mr B’s assets.

Jeffrey, of Hayley Common, Stevenage, Herts, did not attend the hearing but wrote a letter confirming that he accepts responsibility for the blunder.

The committee banned him from being employed by a solicitors’ firm, and ordered him to pay pnds stlg 1,223 costs.

ends