What breathtaking arrogance. What is happening to the legal system in the UK when crooks like Neil Sharpley are able to walk away from justice? From what I read the man had been dipping into clients accounts and was struck off as a solicitor by his professional association for that dishonesty. But that was a civil matter - didn't the Police have a duty to deal with the criminal side of this conduct, and by the same reasoning, didn't the court have a duty to deal with the criminality?? It seems that yet again the courts have failed in that duty as they do almost daily nowadays. I wonder like Guest (above) what happened to the money stolen from Mr Lewis and also how Mr Lewis and his family feel - do they think justice has been done? Do they think they have been treated "fairly" by the Court? It seems to be a misplaced direction by yet another barmy judge.   Mr Sharpley must surely be heading for a fall sooner or later as this sort of "slipping through the noose" cannot go without remark or eventual action - legal or otherwise.