A SOLICITOR who juggled clients' funds during a ten-year period causing a shortage of £78,000, was struck off yesterday.

James Paul Graney, 47, of Haininghead, Fatfield, Washington, Tyne and Wear, had suffered a marriage breakdown, the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal in London heard.

Mr Graney, who ran his firm Paul Graney from Harbottle Street, Houghton-le-Spring until it closed in February, was not present at the hearing, but had admitted the allegations.

Ian Bonney-James, for the Law Society, told the tribunal: "This is a serious matter - he has not acted with honesty, probity and integrity."

Mr Graney admitted misusing client funds for his own purposes and other clients, breaching accounts rules, failing to maintain accounts and utilising funds for his own use.

An investigating accountant inspected his premises in January and interviewed him a week later.

Mr Bonney-James said: "He said the shortage arose mainly due to bridging loans to clients which had not been honoured. He had juggled money about - Peter to pay Paul."

In his letter admitting the allegations, Mr Graney said that he had been involved with a client in 1992 in buying property for renovation and provided a bridging loan for £25,000.

However, the client went bankrupt. The same thing occurred regarding a second bridging loan for £30,000 over another similar deal.

There had been an improper loan of £10,000 to a client which occurred as Mr Graney's marriage broke down in 1998 and he almost suffered a nervous breakdown. This money has since been repaid.

Regarding a banking error of £2,790 which was not rectified, he said he should have corrected it but had not done so.

Tribunal chairman Boyd Holmes ordered Mr Graney to pay £690.93 costs