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| Lawyer jailed for theft from dead | Lawyer jailed for theft from dead |
| (1 day later) | |
| A former deputy coroner and solicitor has been jailed for stealing money from a charitable trust account he set up with money taken from dead clients. | A former deputy coroner and solicitor has been jailed for stealing money from a charitable trust account he set up with money taken from dead clients. |
| Alan Benstock, 51, of Chapel Allerton, Leeds, was jailed for 22 months for the thefts while working as a solicitor at Lister Croft in Wakefield. | Alan Benstock, 51, of Chapel Allerton, Leeds, was jailed for 22 months for the thefts while working as a solicitor at Lister Croft in Wakefield. |
| Leeds Crown Court heard the will and probate specialist took £43,450 from the estates of three dead clients. | Leeds Crown Court heard the will and probate specialist took £43,450 from the estates of three dead clients. |
| Some of the cash was used for personal expenses and to generate more business. | Some of the cash was used for personal expenses and to generate more business. |
| The court heard Benstock moved the money into LC Charitable Trust, which he had set up but not registered, in order to try to generate more business for the firm and fund personal expenses. | The court heard Benstock moved the money into LC Charitable Trust, which he had set up but not registered, in order to try to generate more business for the firm and fund personal expenses. |
| 'Broken man' | 'Broken man' |
| He also used £27,200 from the trust to pay off personal credit card bills, his family's private medical fees and his daughter's private school fees, the court heard. | He also used £27,200 from the trust to pay off personal credit card bills, his family's private medical fees and his daughter's private school fees, the court heard. |
| I do not think you were motivated by greed but you were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to live beyond your means Judge Penelope Belcher | I do not think you were motivated by greed but you were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to live beyond your means Judge Penelope Belcher |
| Benstock was arrested in February 2008 after a partner at the solicitor's firm heard about the trust and informed the Law Society. | Benstock was arrested in February 2008 after a partner at the solicitor's firm heard about the trust and informed the Law Society. |
| Jeremy Barnett, mitigating, told the judge Benstock's offences had not been carried out to fund a lavish lifestyle and that he had paid back the money after borrowing it from his brother and sister-in-law. | Jeremy Barnett, mitigating, told the judge Benstock's offences had not been carried out to fund a lavish lifestyle and that he had paid back the money after borrowing it from his brother and sister-in-law. |
| Mr Barnett also told the court Benstock was a "broken man" and was taking medication for depression. | Mr Barnett also told the court Benstock was a "broken man" and was taking medication for depression. |
| In her summary Judge Penelope Belcher said she was satisfied Benstock had not set out to steal money but had turned to it when he realised he could not afford his lifestyle. | In her summary Judge Penelope Belcher said she was satisfied Benstock had not set out to steal money but had turned to it when he realised he could not afford his lifestyle. |
| "I do not think you were someone who was motivated by greed but you were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to live beyond your means", she said. | "I do not think you were someone who was motivated by greed but you were undoubtedly motivated by a desire to live beyond your means", she said. |
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