Conman posed as solicitor, took £60k, then vanished now serving over 3 years

Dean Charnley posed as a solicitor and took £60,500, without doing a shred of legal work

A Kings Langley man who conned clients out of more than £60,000 by pretending to be a qualified solicitor has been sentenced to over three years in prison.

Dean Charnley, 44, of Ovaltine Court, charged unsuspecting clients £60,500 for legal services he never delivered. The fraud took place over an extended period between August 2018 and June 2019, during which Charnley posed as a legitimate solicitor and accepted payments from two individuals for work he had no intention of completing.

Charnley’s fraudulent activities first came to public attention in February this year, when he was formally charged with fraud by false representation. He later pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Friday 14 February.

The case was escalated to St Albans Crown Court, where Charnley faced sentencing on Friday 7 March. The court heard how he manipulated his victims with false promises of professional legal services, exploiting their trust and pocketing their money. He was handed a 40-month custodial sentence.

Although his deceit left clients financially and emotionally drained, Charnley offered no restitution. No fine has yet been issued by the court, despite the scale of the fraud. The court also noted that Charnley was not a qualified solicitor, nor was he regulated by any official legal body during the time he purported to offer his services.

Further court documents reveal that Charnley has already appeared in two follow-up mention hearings, with another scheduled for Tuesday 21 October at the same court. Details regarding the content or outcome of these hearings remain undisclosed, but they may pertain to either additional legal consequences or unresolved financial penalties.

One of the victims, who wished to remain anonymous, said they felt “utterly betrayed” by someone who appeared to be a respectable professional. “He knew exactly what to say to win our trust,” they said. “We handed over our money believing we were getting expert legal help, but in reality, he was never even qualified.”

The judge presiding over the case called Charnley’s actions “a serious breach of public trust,” noting the prolonged nature of the deception and the financial toll it had on victims.

Legal authorities and watchdogs are now warning members of the public to be vigilant when hiring legal representation. They urge individuals to verify credentials with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and avoid transferring large sums before confirming that a solicitor is properly licensed.

Fraud in the legal profession—or by those impersonating it—undermines public confidence in the justice system, according to legal experts. “What makes this case particularly egregious is not just the amount of money lost,” one former prosecutor remarked, “but the betrayal of vulnerable people seeking legal support during stressful times.”

As of now, Charnley continues to serve his 40-month sentence in custody. Whether he will face financial penalties or further criminal charges remains to be seen