Theft solicitor barred from job

A Shropshire solicitor convicted of theft and forgery has been struck off by a disciplinary panel.

Andrew Nicholls, who was a partner at the firm Dakin Nicholls of Shifnal, was given a three-month suspended jail term by Telford magistrates last year.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal heard on Thursday how the 41-year-old had made false entries on cheque stubs and forged a colleague's signature.

The tribunal's chairman said there was clear evidence of Nicholls' dishonesty.

He had pleaded to a total of four counts of theft and forgery at his original trial.

Chairman Stephen Jones ordered that Nicholls, who was not present at the hearing, should pay costs of more than £1,000.