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Darwen solicitor jailed for failing to pay back cash (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Darwen solicitor jailed for failing to pay back cash
10:00pm Tuesday 2nd February 2010
More stories about: Philip Pressler
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- By Tom Moseley » Local government reporter
A CROOKED solicitor who swindled £759,000 from his clients is back behind bars after failing to repay the money he owed.
Magistrates finally lost patience with Philip Pressler, who has paid back just £219,138 of a £690,000 order made five years ago.
Looking suntanned and dressed in a suit and a pink shirt, the 58 year-old, of Key View, Darwen, was sent back to prison for 746 days after being accused of being “obstructive” to attempts to recover the cash.
Today it also emerged he had breached a ban on setting up bank accounts – paying £10,000 to his step daughter which was “drip fed” back into his account.
He also had £63,000 in “hidden assets”.
Last week his Mercedes was sold for £3,100, with the cash taken by receivers.
Pressler also owns a home in Spain, the court was told, but it is worthless because it does not have the correct planning permission.
John Elliot, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “There is clear and cogent evidence that this man has had access to hidden accounts.”
Defence lawyer Isaac Mirza claimed Pressler’s attempts to find work to repay the money had been hampered by ‘bad publicity’.
Today, magistrates rejected his defence, which included filing for a ‘certificate of inadequacy’, to prove he could repay the money.
Sentencing Pressler to 746 days in prison, Derek Tate, chairman of the bench, said he had previously been convicted of ‘numerous counts of theft’.
He said: “We do not believe you have been proactive in settling this order.
“Furthermore, we consider you have been obstructive.”
Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Janet Baldwin, of the proceeds of crime unit, said: “This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort, to ensure criminals – even after serving their original sentence – are forced to pay their confiscation order or face the penalty of a further sentence.”
In 2006 the Lancashire Telegraph revealed Pressler was being allowed to give advice at a Citizens Advice Bureau while on day released from his first prison sentence.
He was subsequently sacked.
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Your Say YourTelegraph
Moorland, says...
6:11am Wed 3 Feb 10
Rather than me going into any more detail on this site Pressler dealt with one of our deceased relative's estate. But, one of our relatives 'smelt a rat' and said she was going to report Pressler to the Law Society but, in the meantime, someone else had already reported him.
And when he is released I suggest he b*ggers off from Darwen and lives somewhere else so that we don't need to see his face again!
madari, Fence says...
8:15am Wed 3 Feb 10
Davidoff wrote:Madari the snake charmer say:
Back where he belongs, then. Along with the other solicitors - Charles Dicken's 'd have a field day with modern solicitors! certainly few books there. Possibly the worst variety of criminal - the ones whom you place your trust in, those who smile, take your money, live a lavish lifestyle after stealing your every penny ... 'upholders of the law' and 'pillars of the community'. These people are no different to those who rob banks, commit benefit fraud. Funny thing is, I don't imagine for one second those around him would ever have guessed or even considered him to be of this 'ilk'. More's the pity, then. Mores the pity. Because if people took more notice of whom it is in our country, looked past the media brainwashing of stereotypes - eg everyone living on council estates is a criminal and 'bad' to the core - they may also see whom it is who actually DOES commit fraud on a large scale in this country. The people we paid to trust! Mostly.
I couldnt have put it better myself,
They are all employes by Sue Grabbit and Run firm of solicitors.
Jack Straw included.
time.team, Blackburn says...
11:48am Wed 3 Feb 10
Come on Janet, not much from you recently, don’t you know there’s an election brewing. How about defending your hero Tony Blair?
whereistedward, darwen says...
2:18pm Wed 3 Feb 10
time.team wrote:Quite disgraceful comments time.team Mr Pressler is a convicted criminal. Nearly 500 MP's have had to pay money back. How many of these have broken the law ? Why single out one ? I understand that about 4 or 5 are being investigated (quite rightly) by the Police. Janet Anderson isn't one of these.
Taking money from people and surprised that they want it back. Hello Janet Anderson, you seem to have competition! Come on Janet, not much from you recently, don’t you know there’s an election brewing. How about defending your hero Tony Blair?
If you think Janet Anderson has broken the law in a similar way to Mr Pressler then I suggest you go to the Police ASAP. Otherwise, don't be such a muppet !
time.team, Blackburn says...
5:21pm Wed 3 Feb 10
ard: Janet Anderson/Tony Blair - Just what is the difference?
Dai Darwen, Pontcysyllte says...
7:48pm Wed 3 Feb 10
time.team wrote:Is it JA doesn't claim expenses now to have her Telegraph delivered now ???? Phil Pressler will get it delivered for free !!!!
Guardion/whereistedw ard: Janet Anderson/Tony Blair - Just what is the difference?
Nostradamous, Blackburn says...
8:11pm Wed 3 Feb 10
All attempts must be made to make the punishment fit the crime so the punishment does become a deterent and would make any person think twice before attempting to touch money that really isnt there's.
This guy knows that the law allows him to get on with his life,ok he has been quite provacative aand stupid in this instance,but if he were to simply show that he is making the slightest effort to pay it back the crackpots who set the sentencing would be very happy,and that is the problem never mind them being hapy what about the poor unfortunate people who are left being robbed and may never see a penny of there money?,
Like it or not but any solicitor caught doing such a vile thing would get life and i mean life,because as i have mentioned earlier it is the whole core of our way of life that is at stake,wiping these guys or gals off the register is just not good enough the punishment has got to be harsh because it has not got to happen again.
‘HIDDEN ASSETS’: Philip Pressler who has been jailed again
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Davidoff, n/a says...
10:23pm Tue 2 Feb 10
Possibly the worst variety of criminal - the ones whom you place your trust in, those who smile, take your money, live a lavish lifestyle after stealing your every penny ... 'upholders of the law' and 'pillars of the community'. These people are no different to those who rob banks, commit benefit fraud. Funny thing is, I don't imagine for one second those around him would ever have guessed or even considered him to be of this 'ilk'. More's the pity, then. Mores the pity. Because if people took more notice of whom it is in our country, looked past the media brainwashing of stereotypes - eg everyone living on council estates is a criminal and 'bad' to the core - they may also see whom it is who actually DOES commit fraud on a large scale in this country. The people we paid to trust! Mostly.