Solicitor struck off for stealing from clients

A WORCESTERSHIRE solicitor has been struck off after stealing more than £13,000 from clients to fund his own lifestyle.

Stephen Climo worked at G S & O Solicitors as an associate solicitor dealing mostly with private client work for five years until 2015, when his frauds were uncovered by the firm.

It reported Mr Climo to the police and in August 2015 he was jailed for 20 months at Worcester Crown Court after pleading guilty to one count of fraud by false representation, three counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of theft.

Sentencing him, Judge RJ Rundell said: “In terms of culpability, you are high up the scale, having regard to the period concerned, the number of clients and grave breach of trust involved.”

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has just published its decision following its own hearing, held three weeks ago, into Mr Climo’s conduct.

It described his actions as “deliberate, calculated and repeated” for the manner in which he deceived clients of the firm.

The tribunal panel said: “His conduct was a complete departure from the required standards of a solicitor and the seriousness of the misconduct itself was very high.

“The seriousness of the misconduct was at the highest level and the Tribunal considered that a lesser sanction than striking [Mr Climo’s] name off the Roll of Solicitors was inappropriate.”

Mr Climo was also ordered to pay costs of £4,255. The money taken from clients has been paid back, largely by the firm.