Solicitor jailed for using criminal funds to pay off mortgage 10 years early, struck off
A solicitor who used drug money from his twin brother to pay off his mortgage has been struck off following a conviction for conspiracy to commit fraud and converting criminal property. Paul Simon Green, 47, was sentenced to 26 months in prison last year after Southampton Crown Court found he had used his brother’s ill-gotten gains to settle his mortgage.
Green, who qualified as a solicitor in 2008, was working at Barlow Robbins (now Moore Barlow) in Surrey during the period of the offences between 2010 and 2015, before moving to a London-based firm. Judge Sykes Frixou. He later worked at three other London firms, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) heard that Green bought a property with a mortgage from Santander, falsely claiming to be the sole owner and the sole person responsible for mortgage payments. In reality, his brother, James Alexander Green, had contributed £50,000 towards the purchase price and made mortgage payments directly into Paul’s bank account. Over the five years from 2010 to 2015, James transferred £50,000 to Paul, who then made £47,500 in mortgage payments using this money.
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James Green, who was involved in a separate criminal operation, was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, concealing criminal property, and possessing drugs with intent to supply, among other charges. The £50,000 transferred to Paul was part of the criminal proceeds from James’s illegal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.
In his sentencing, His Honour Judge Henry rejected Paul Green’s claim that he was unaware of his brother’s criminal activity. The judge commented that the jury had rejected Green’s explanation and that it was clear he had been complicit, actively participating in the mortgage fraud. The judge added that, even if Paul’s actions were misguided attempts to help his brother, he was fully aware of what was happening and chose to benefit from the criminal money.
The SDT, after reviewing the case, agreed that Green should be struck off. The tribunal stated that his actions were a clear violation of the ethical standards expected of solicitors, and the sanction was deemed appropriate.
Detective Constable David Thomas from the South East Cyber Crime Unit confirmed that at least £166,000 in criminal money had been used to pay off the mortgage, which was settled 10 years early. Green did not contest the decision to be struck off, and the SDT’s ruling means that he will no longer be able to practice law.