So who did have Mr Lewis's cash Neil????


Ex-coroner walks free as deception charges are dropped


FORMER Louth coroner and solicitor Neil Sharpley, who was accused of deception offences, walked free from court last week after the charges against him were thrown out.


Mr Sharpley, 52, of Westgate, was alleged to have obtained £47,000 from a client's estate and used it for his own purposes.
He had been due to stand trial at Leicester Crown Court , but the case never reached the stage of swearing in a panel of jurors. After three days of legal argument Judge Ian Collis ruled Mr Sharpley could not receive a fair trial due to an "abuse of process" in bringing the case to court.

Mr Sharpley had denied two offences of obtaining a money transfer by deception from John Lewis between February and June 1997. A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service explained an "abuse of process" was something which could affect the overall fairness of a trial. He said the ruling was not particularly uncommon.
Neil Sharpley told the Leader he was relieved the matter was over.

He said: "This has all been a gross waste of public resources and money. I'm just glad the saga is over and the sooner it is out of the public arena the better"
A police spokesperson said the police were awaiting a written copy of the judgement from his honour Judge Collis.

She said: "Until we have examined the findings in detail and discussed the matter with the Crown Prosecution Service and prosecution council we are not in a position to comment on the case."



08 October 2003