Woman wins free legal advice case

A woman who claimed for free legal advice and also spent thousands on a house at the same time has won her court battle.

Kathrine McCann bought a five-bedroom home for £230,000 while also using legal aid to battle to stay on an illegal caravan pitch, the Essex Echo reported.

Blackfriars Crown Court found that Ms McCann, 52, had not fraudulently failed to inform the Legal Services Commission when she purchased the property in Wickford in 2008.

The jury concluded that, although she had been wrong to continue receiving free legal advice after buying the property on Hovefields Avenue, she was unaware that she had to inform the commission of her changing circumstances.

While battling Basildon Council to remain on the traveller pitch close to her new home, she claimed that her solicitor, Jeremy Browne, had not informed her that future means changes would have to be revealed.

However, although it was found that she was not guilty, the judge presiding over the case still ruled that Ms McCann had to pay over £4,000 to meet the legal aid costs she accrued in both trials.

Furthermore, the government's proposed cuts to legal help services were recently criticised by Joanna Lumley, who said that she is a supporter of the Sound Off For Justice initiative.

Published by Tessa Jones