To all Beatles Fans Wednesday, 19 August 2009 Fellow Fans! My life and legal career has cris-crossed with the Beatles several times, most recently in an involvement for a client, who held the tapes made by the late Linda McCartney which became a hot property, when it was alleged that Sir Paul was violent in his second marriage. You were no one unless you danced to the Beatles. By this I mean, before they filled theatres with seats, Beatle mania filled dance halls. I saw them in Buxton in 1963 (see photograph). This is taken from behind the stage, and…
The Knock on the Door In the UK if someone arrested, there is a right to a lawyer, due process, and a court appearance to examine the evidence. There cannot just be a “knock on the door” which epitomised the Nazi regime, and frightened those of us old enough to remember the terror campaign of the thirties and forties. But, a knock on the door has become a reality for British citizens. Typically, if an offence in a European country carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment, the UK citizen has no rights whatever and literally there could a…
What do you think of these recent remarks made by judges? “Immigrants like you, and there are literally hundreds of thousands of people like you, come to these shores from foreign countries to avail themselves of the generous welfare benefit system here. The national debt of this country has risen to extraordinary heights because the Government has wasted billions of pounds on such welfare payments. For every pound that a decent hardworking citizen earns and pays in taxes 10% goes on welfare payments largely to people like you.” Or try this, “We are living in a society bedevilled by wild…
Imagine the scene. A Bank Board of directors, conscious of furious public, angry shareholders and under the gaze of Financial Services Authority and the Government, meet. The subject is to hire a new star trader currently in New York. “Let’s pay a £5 million bonus because I like his face”. Nonsense says the next “Let’s pay her £6 million bonus because she has a good figure”. Does Alistair Darling really think that a board of directors pays out bonuses because of a nice face or a good figure? A bank board pays out bonuses for one reason, which is to…
Is it right to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds? Should he receive treatment in prison or be released to get care? Although tried in a Scottish Court, in reality this was an American tragedy and the crime solved with CIA resources. To free the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds shows no compassion let alone other nationals, who strongly oppose his release. In America the bomber would undoubtedly have been given the death penalty. The Scottish Authorities have discretion to take all factors into account, and many feel this bomber should die in prison. One little-known but sickening aspect…
An old one but here is the article on Rodney that featured in the Times, 6th March 2000 STRUCK OFF! 6 March 2000 The high flying solicitor Rodney Hylton-Potts was struck off and imprisoned for his part in a mortgage fraud. But this has not stopped him from putting his legal training to work legally. He talks to Francis Gibb about his crime and his new career It is not every day that a solicitor ends up as an inmate of Her Majesty’s prisons. So when Rodney Hylton-Potts was jailed for mortgage fraud, he found himself remarkably popular with other…
Sources of Finance Available We maintain excellent connections with top mortgage brokers, and are available to assist in the negotiation of loan terms. We can also have sources of private finance, if the banks and institutions do not lend, as has so often proved to be the case in the credit crunch. We clearly explain the terms of a loan agreement, and caution you against paying out costs or fees in advance, in an area which is rife with advanced fee fraudsters, who hoodwink often vulnerable people. If you are interested in these services they are suitable for an email…
We have many podcast on our website – To assist those people without speakers, or that are hard of hearing we have transcribed them into text – Please read them here – Benefit Fraud Business Law Child Contact Civil Partnerships Cohabitation Criminal Injury Compensation Debt Collection Divorce Employment Law Insolvency Intellectual Property Litigation Motoring Offences Offshore Banking Personal Injury Pre-Nuptial Agreements Property Law Wills and Probate
Oh how I miss the “Sweatbox” After being held by the police and awaiting a hearing, a weekly appearance before the Magistrates is a lifeline for prisoners. It may mean the claustrophobic “sweatbox” and endless hanging around, but it is a one opportunity to appear in open court and be visible to a judge, family, the public and press. Much police misconduct, (“slipping on the steps”) has been revealed in this way, and is a salutary reminder for officers to treat prisoners strictly in accordance with the law. The Government plan to sweep this away by having virtual magistrates’ courts…
We have finally caught up and created our own Twitter account – Why not follow us here – Hylton Potts on Twitter We will be “tweeting” all our news from now on so why not use this popular social networking tool to keep in touch Yours, Rodney Hylton-Potts – Lawyer in London
