A GREEDY solicitor stole more than £800,000 from a law firm to fund his luxury lifestyle, said police.

Trusted lawyer Ian Macfarlane siphoned the cash into a bogus account during his time as a partner at a Blandford firm of solicitors.

And this week the 44-year-old thief pleaded guilty to 26 offences and asked for a further 137 to be taken into consideration.

He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday to admit the charges of theft of cash.

The charges covered amounts ranging from £720 to £44,000 and came to a total of £825,064.

The court was told the crimes took place between December 1996 and July 2004.

After the case, police said Macfarlane stole money which should have been paid to the Inland Revenue when his clients paid stamp duty. He specialised in conveyancing at Traill & Co.

DC Paul Sullivan of Dorset Police said: "He had a well-paid job, lived in an idyllic country house, drove a convertible Mercedes and ran a property management company with his wife.

"Now his life is in ruins. He has lost a well-paid job and will have to pay back the proceeds of his crimes. Greed was his downfall."

Macfarlane, a father of two daughters who attend private school, was eventually caught when a member of staff at Traill & Co became suspicious, added DC Sullivan.

The firm, based in Market Place in Blandford, is keen to distance itself from Macfarlane and issued a statement stressing that no client has suffered or will suffer any loss whatsoever.

"This has been a great shock to Mr Macfarlane's partners and staff in the firm," said a spokesman. "The partners would like to express their thanks to all who have known of the problem and who have supported them through this difficult period.

"They confirm that they will continue to provide the high quality service to clients that they have in the past."

The court case was adjourned and Macfarlane, of West Street, Winterborne Kingston, will be sentenced at a date to be fixed.

First published: April 26