Andrew Milne: Lawyer in Sheffield leases row 'sanctioned' over stalking conviction
A solicitor who was convicted of stalking, who iss also at the centre of a Sheffield housing leases row, has been has been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Andrew Milne, based at Old Broad St, London, was convicted earlier this month of stalking without fear after a seven-day trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court, London. He is due to be be sentenced on March 10.
Sheffield MP Olivia Blake recently referred to Mr Milne in the House of Commons, accusing him of buying the freeholds to more than 170 houses in Sheffield at auction, before threatening letters were sent to householders.
The letters claimed alleged breach of covenants within the lease for extensions or other building work, and demanded residents pay £25,000 to buy out the freeholds, with the threat of forfeiture and High Court action if they did not pay up.
Ms Blake said she reported him to police on the basis his actions “may amount to fraud by falsely representing the position of leaseholds, as well as causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.”
Action by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is related to the conviction for stalking, although it is also investigating ‘wider concerns’.
Following Mr Milne’s conviction for stalking, an SRA adjudicator has decided that Milne, of Andrew Milne & Co Solicitors, should not act as a solicitor without the supervision of another solicitor, approved by the SRA.
The means his work - either at Andrew Milne & Co Solicitors or any other firm - would need to be subject to oversight by another appropriate solicitor, who the SRA has approved, to make sure that all the legal services delivered are of appropriate quality and are delivered in accordance with the SRA’s standards and regulations.
The SRA says conditions are not findings of a breach of the Standards and Regulations, but are aimed at controlling the work of an individual in the public interest, while fuller investigations are ongoing.
An SRA spokesperson said: “We have serious concerns regarding Mr Milne’s conviction for stalking, as well as wider allegations which have been made.
“Our priority is to protect the public. This is why, as a result of his conviction, we have imposed a condition upon him which means he may not act as a solicitor without being supervised by a further solicitor, who we have approved to act in this capacity.”
The SRA is continuing to investigate both the underlying stalking matter, and wider concerns.
Milne's law firm has previously denied any allegations impropriety in relation to the leaseholds.