Solicitor directed clients to her own bank account, costing her firm £160,000
Fiona Parsons, a 54-year-old property solicitor, has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a massive £160,000 fraud against her own law firm. The associate solicitor from Cornwall, who was employed at Hereford firm Lambe Corner, was caught directing over 300 clients to deposit money into her personal bank account instead of the firm’s account.
The fraud first came to light in September 2020 when two house buyers were asked to pay £400 for property searches. Over two years later, they received bills from the firm claiming they still owed money. The investigation uncovered a pattern of fraudulent transactions, all carried out using the same method, stretching into 2023. Parsons was arrested in March of that year after West Mercia’s economic crime unit traced the fraudulent activity.
Detective Constable Cathryn Blake, who led the investigation, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing. “We are pleased to get this custodial sentence at court for Parsons, whose fraudulent activities cost a law firm just over £160,000 over a three-year period. Her actions not only put customers out of pocket but the business too. It was not only an abuse of her position as a solicitor but also an abuse of trust,” Blake said.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe fraud, which Parsons committed over a three-year period, involved her convincing clients to send payments for property searches and other services directly into her bank account. This left the clients unaware of the wrongdoing, as they were unaware that the funds were never reaching the firm. Multiple similar cases were uncovered in which clients were unaware they had been scammed until contacted by the firm.
The full extent of the fraud was revealed after a thorough investigation by Hereford CID and West Mercia’s economic crime unit. The stolen funds were traced through over 300 transactions, and Parsons’ manipulation of the firm’s accounting system was identified as the key factor in enabling her deception.
Fiona Parsons, who was admitted to the solicitor’s roll in 1998, had been under interim practising conditions since 2023. Following her sentencing, she will now face disciplinary proceedings from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which could result in permanent disbarment from practicing law. The firm is now working to compensate the affected clients and recover the stolen funds.
The Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings are currently underway to ensure that any assets gained through Parsons’ fraudulent activities are seized and returned. This case highlights the devastating impact fraud can have on both businesses and clients, especially when committed by individuals in trusted positions.
Blake concluded: “We would like to thank the firm for their cooperation and all the clients who have been spoken to, whether that was by myself or the firm for their help during this investigation.”
