Senior partner looted £1.96m from clients, charities and trusts in “lottery scam” spiral

Hugh Peter Lansdell admits £1.96m misappropriation; SDT strikes him off

A veteran Norfolk solicitor has been struck off after admitting a breathtaking pattern of thefts from client money, private trusts and even charities—raids he said were driven by a bogus lottery “win” that bled him for fraudulent fees. In a case decided on the papers, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal accepted an agreed outcome in which Hugh Peter Lansdell, a partner (and later senior partner) at Hansells, confessed to misappropriating about £1.96 million between 2015 and 2017.

Investigators said Lansdell caused 59 payments totalling £1,490,013.16 to be drawn from the firm’s client account and booked across 29 matters, with money flowing to entities wholly unconnected to the clients. He also dipped into two personal bank accounts he controlled as attorney, diverting £35,855 via transfers and cash withdrawals. Beyond that, he ordered the sale of assets without trustee instructions—£88,001.53 from a private family trust, £102,500 from Charity B, and £247,289.75 from Charity C—then funnelled the proceeds into the same vortex. In one instance, he even paid a CICA claimant over ten times the likely award ceiling while neglecting the case itself.

For nearly two years, the cash poured into accounts of shadowy payees such as Ningbo Two Birds Ltd and others—alleged “release fees” for a non-existent seven-figure jackpot. When colleagues raised concerns in spring 2017, he spun a story about a risk-free investment scheme before finally conceding he’d been duped by scammers. A psychologist later described compulsive prayer, overvalued beliefs and severe stress impairing his judgment; Lansdell nonetheless accepted that his actions were dishonest.

The tribunal called the misconduct deliberate, repeated and profoundly serious—committed by a solicitor of 42 years’ standing who rose to senior partner. Public trust, client protection and the sanctity of client account were all shattered. With dishonesty admitted across the board, the SDT concluded there was only one sanction: strike-off. Lansdell must also contribute £27,338.34 in costs. For the clients, charities and partners left to absorb the losses, the numbers are stark; for the profession, the message is starker still.