A solicitor who took thousands of pounds from clients has been struck off and his colleague fined by the lawyers' governing body.

Peter Mason, 43, was found to have plundered £66,000 from accounts after he was reported by his wife.

His former partner, Mark Westwood, 39, of St Leonards Gardens, Hove, described as 'the great prevaricator', was fined £10,000 after he was responsible for his second series of blunders.

Mason, was investigated by the Law Society when his partner discovered a shortfall of slightly less than £200,000 in customer accounts.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal yesterday heard Mason admitted using clients money improperly and also using client funds for his own benefit.

Roger Field, for the Law Society, told the panel Mason was formerly a partner at Dell and Loader, based in Lansdowne Place, Hove.

He left the firm in 1997 to set up his own practice in partnership with his wife as Masons Solicitors, in Frederick Terrace, Brighton. They later moved to Cornwall.

But investigators from the Law Society were called in "when his wife discovered Mason had been taking clients money improperly", said Mr Field.

"The bank accounts were not in compliance because they contained false entries to cover up the misuse of clients funds. There was an illicit transfer from clients to office bank accounts."

"Mr Mason took monies unconnected with that particular matter and used them for his own benefit."

In less than two years a total of £66,000, in sums ranging from £120 to £17,331, were wrongly transferred.

In addition Mason, of St Ruan, Helaton, Cornwall was ordered to pay costs of £10,981.28.

Westwood's fine comes four years after he was brought before the solicitor's disciplinary tribunal for another series of blunders and delays.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £6,250.

Westwood now works for a local firm.