A family law solicitor has been convicted of tax fraud after wrongfully claiming £37,000 in income tax repayments.
Dianna Gerald, from south west firm Simply Solicitors, was convicted last week at Manchester Crown Court on four counts of fraud by false representation.
A spokeswoman for HM Revenue & Customs confirmed that Gerald was convicting of making false income tax repayments in 2009 and 2010.
She was found guilty following a 12-day trial and will be sentenced in early August.
The court heard that Gerald falsified evidence and documents relating to her self-assessment claims.
Gerald, who HMRC said also goes by the name of Dianna Lee, is listed as a director with Family Law Consultants Limited (trading as Simply Solicitors), based in Cheltenham and Worcester.
According to its website, the firm specialises in civil litigation in divorces and family matters, describing itself as an ‘experienced and trusted law firm’.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority said the firm is officially listed as open, but the Gazette understands that it has been closed since last week.
A spokesman for the SRA said: ‘Dianna Gerald or Dianna Lee from Simply Solicitors is a practising solicitor. We were aware of the criminal case and have been monitoring it closely.
‘We are now considering what regulatory action to take. A core priority is to make sure that we protect the public.’
