A former solicitor has been struck off after he admitted 'misappropriating' nearly £2,000 from his employer and clients.

Anthony Chiedu Osude, 30, took £1,600 from Marshall and Galpin solicitors, in St Michael's Street, Oxford, and £330 from clients while working for the firm in 1995.

He told a solicitors' disciplinary tribunal he needed the cash to pay off debts built up while studying at law school.

Andrew Miller, of the Law Society, told the London tribunal that Osude was caught after Marshall and Galpin made a complaint to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, in October last year.

Osude immediately admitted misappropriating money, saying he claimed travel expenses before making the journey and sometimes made expenses claims twice.

Announcing the striking-off, the chairman of the hearing, Barrie Marsh, said the solicitor deserved credit for owning up to his dishonesty. But he said: "His behaviour was not just a one-off offence but amounted to conduct that was not acceptable in the eyes of the public and the profession."

The tribunal heard that Osude is now living on benefit but is making a "serious attempt" to the money back. He was also ordered to pay £1,595 costs.

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