A SOLICITOR who stole almost £170,000 from clients' wills and trust funds was jailed for two-and-a-half years yesterday.

Ian Spoor spent the cash on expensive trips to the opera in London, home improvements and a new Saab car, and paid off family debts.

Yesterday, the 40-year-old, who admitted to being addicted to stealing during his ten-year spree, pleaded guilty to 50 counts of theft at York Crown Court.

Spoor's deceit began when working as a legal advisor for McKeags and Co, of Newcastle, one of the most prestigious law firms in the region.

Richard Mansell, prosecuting, told the court the solicitor was asked to administer the estate of a woman whose husband had died in a car accident. Spoor told the widow that the insurance company had not paid out on his death - and he pocketed more than £35,000 due to her.

In September 1997, he joined Gordon Brown Associates, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, and stole more than £67,000 from six trust accounts over a five-year period. During this time he also took cash from clients for legal services and paid it into his own account at the NatWest bank.

Mr Mansell said this had alerted clerical staff at Gordon Brown, and eventually he admitted taking money from clients on about 30 occasions.

Mr Brown involved the police when it was discovered that documents relating to £28,000 of payments to one estate were missing. A police search of Spoor's house in Regent Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, uncovered the missing documents.

A civil court has now ordered Spoor to repay the company £128,000 and pay court costs of £8,000.

The crown court was told that Spoor faces losing his house to meet the payments because he has paid back only £500 so far.

Simon Kealey, mitigating, told the court that his client had not lived extravagantly on the stolen money.