Ipswich solicitor jailed for fraud
14 September 2012
An Ipswich solicitor who jumped bail and fled to Nigeria to escape mortgage fraud charges has been jailed for four years.

Ajayi Seun is a new and high-profile entrant to RollOnFriday's Dodgy Solicitor Top Trumps. The former solicitor made Crimewatch's list of the top ten most wanted fraudsters after skipping bail last year. But he returned to the UK and handed himself in, pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud for his part in a £5.5m mortgage scam, according to an EADT report.

The court was told that the fraud, which involved fictional identities and forged documents, saw £5.5m funnelled through the accounts of Seun's firm, Doves Solicitors. According to Judge Godwin borrowers were "badly stung" and lenders "massively defrauded".


It is alleged that the scam was orchestrated by Samuel Ajiboye, currently on the run in Nigeria, who according to Judge Godwin "needed a dishonest solicitor". And Seun fitted that bill. Jailing him for four years, the judge did not hold back, telling him "you are a disgrace and bring into disrepute your profession".

For a full round up of dodgy solicitors see the table below and if you've spotted one, you know where we are.

Name	Jurisdiction	Crime	Sentence
Matthew Kluger, ex Skadden	USA	Insider trading	12 years
Martin Weisberg, ex Bakers	USA	$3m money laundering, securities fraud	8 years expected
Simon Morgan, ex Milners	England	Theft of £1.4 million	7 years
Kevin Steele, ex Mishcon	England	£18.4m conspiracy	5 1/2 years
Louise Martini, ex Williamson & Soden	England	Theft of £1.7m	5 years
Ajayi Seun, ex Doves Solicitors	England	Fraud involving £5.5m	4 years
David O'Shea, ex O'Donovan	Ireland	Theft of €779,000	4 years
Kenneth Hunt, ex Hunt Kidd	England	Theft of £1m	4 years
Christopher Grierson, ex Lovells	England	Theft of £1.3m	3 years
Barbara Gayton, ex Hunt Kidd	England	Theft of £1m	2 years
Andy Hodges, ex Fraser Brown/Challinors	England	Theft of £70,000	18 months
Emma Rowsell, ex CC	England	Theft of £63,000	18 months
Richard Simkin, ex Fulbright	England	Theft of £100,000	16 months
Judie Groom, ex CC	England	Theft of £23,000	15 months
Leonard Sawyer	USA	Lewd acts	180 days expected
Partner who ran a red light, Hogan Lovells	Dubai	Running a red light	20 days
Pissed trainee, Freshfields	Dubai	Being pissed	2 days