Rustington solicitor struck off

Mr Williamson's actions were described as "abhorrent" at the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal hearing on Thursday.

One pensioner in his 90s left the solicitor 90 per cent of his assets in his will, the hearing was told. Nursing home staff later reported the elderly man could not properly conduct his own affairs.

Mr Williamson, 65, also left his two offices without proper supervision, while he travelled the world to compete in marathons.

The lawyer ran his own firm and had two offices '“ one at The Street, Rustington, and a second in Station Parade, Lancing.

He is a former Conservative member of Arun District Council, serving as chairman in 1998-99, and has also been a leading member of Lancing and Sompting Lions Club, helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Rosemary Rollason, for the Law Society, said Mr Williamson was left 48,247 by the elderly man, who had been in the nursing home.

Mr Williamson was the executor of the estate and should not have acted for the man when he was a beneficiary as well.

The lawyer told investigators that, before he died, the client had told him he was "happy for him to do as he wanted".

There were no notes on the file about discussions he had with the client and Mr Williamson admitted he had not told the man he should take independent legal advice.

Staff at the nursing home said that, two months after signing his will, the elderly man, who had no living relatives, was "unable to deal with his own affairs".

"He was a frail and vulnerable client and the circumstances he was in were open to potential abuse," said Miss Rollason.

The hearing was told Mr Williamson had since repaid the money.

Investigators found Mr Williamson had overcharged a series of clients he was acting for in nursing homes.

He had power of attorney for a living client who was charged a total of 14,096 '“ 28 per cent of his entire assets.

Mr Williamson invoiced him for 881 no fewer than 16 times for "mundane" tasks like paying nursing home fees and pharmacy accounts.

The solicitor told investigators the bills "did not reflect all the work that was done".

Mrs Rollason said his rate amounted to "hundreds and hundreds of pounds an hour".

An elderly woman who died in a nursing home was charged 1,977, 24 per cent of her estate.

Another estate was charged 14 per cent of the gross assets of the deceased.

When he settled the estate of one client, he billed for 4,314, but took a car which he valued at 3,500 in part-payment.

The lawyer had made no attempt to get the car independently valued and no invoice was ever raised.

Mr Williamson also acted for the buyer, seller and lender in property transactions.

He did not supervise his offices properly because he went to one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, the hearing was told.

Mr Williamson, who was the only solicitor at the firm, would also leave the country to go marathon running.

"He said he had an agreement with other firms who would not go to the office on a regular basis but would attend when required," said Miss Rollason.

Mr Williamson did not attend the hearing but was found guilty of 11 charges in his absence.

The lay member of the tribunal, Caroline Pickering, said: "This was abhorrent. In terms of what the public expects of a solicitor this falls a long way short".

Chairman Boyd Holmes added that just one of the incidents of overcharging could have seen Williamson struck off.

"We have already heard our lay member express her very strong views," he said.

"This case involves vulnerable elderly people '“ those who the solicitor's profession are expected to protect."

In addition to his ban, Mr Williamson was ordered to pay costs of 9,846.