Senior barrister jailed for embezzling law firm

Date published: 11 February 2012

A senior barrister who embezzled more than £70,000 from his own law firm has been jailed.

David Friesner, of Bury New Road, Prestwich, pleaded guilty to theft after he was summonsed to appear before Leeds Crown Court at an earlier hearing.

On 10 February 2012 he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

In December 2009, officers Greater Manchester Police's Economic Crime Section were called in to investigate reports of financial irregularities at St John Street Chambers.

Friesner was the deputy head of the Chambers, and had helped build up the practice's reputation since joining in 2000. He was a respected and sought-after barrister who was instrumental in securing a number of convictions against some of Manchester's most notable criminals, with particular expertise in fraud and money laundering cases.

In addition to being a barrister, Friesner also owned a substantial portfolio of investment and rental properties, as well as other business interests.

However, as the investigation unfolded officers discovered that during the 2007/08 credit crunch, the value of Friesner's properties dwindled as did the profits of his other business interests. As a result, Friesner slipped into serious debt.

Despite borrowing heavily from friends and associates, Friesner also manipulated the Chamber's administrator to make 12 payments between October 2008 and November 2009, totalling £72,500. These were paid from Chambers funds directly into his personal bank when Friesner was overdrawn.

Each payment was done without the consent or approval of other Chamber's members, and it is against Chamber's constitution to make loans.

Detective Inspector Dave Pester said: "Friesner was a well-respected barrister who for many years fought against Manchester's criminals. As an expert in fraud and money laundering, he was acutely aware that taking money without the permission of his employers was theft - in fact no-one knew this better than him.

"When he did so, he sadly became one of those criminals who for so long he had fought to bring to justice.

"As a result of poor business choices, he resorted to manipulating people at the Chambers into paying him large sums of money. The fact that he did this repeatedly shows that he had either lost his sense of morality, or simply chose to blind himself to what he was doing.

"Either way, what yesterday's result shows is that no matter what walk of life you are from, or how you earn your living, everyone is subject to the same laws and if you break those laws you will have to face the consequences.

"The choices Friesner made will haunt him for the rest of his life - so I would urge anyone who might be in a downward spiral of debt that turning to criminality is not the answer. Greater Manchester Police's Economic Crime Section will investigate every facet of a person's finances and if there is evidence of criminality, no matter who you are, we will find it and you will be facing a prison sentence. If you do get into debt, please seek specialist advice - don-t take the easy way out and turn to crime as it really does not pay."