London: Solicitor Struck Off for Misleading Court; Fatal Road Accidents and Crime Incidents Rock the UK

Landon: A UK solicitor has been struck off the roll after falsely telling a judge that he was calling from London while actually being in Germany, more than 700 miles away.

The incident occurred during a family court hearing at Leicester County Court in August 2023, where the solicitor was representing a father in a custody-related matter.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found that Priyank Tanwar, an Indian-origin legal professional working as an independent consultant for a London-based firm, had misled the court regarding his location. Although Tanwar denied any intention to deceive and claimed he had informed the court clerk and his client that he was abroad and would attend proceedings online, the tribunal rejected his explanation.

When directly asked by the judge where he was located, Tanwar replied “Ealing, London.” He later argued that he had misunderstood the question. The tribunal, however, ruled that the conduct amounted to professional misconduct, ordered his licence to be revoked, and directed him to pay £7,500 in legal costs.

Four Killed in High-Speed Crash in Bolton

In a separate tragic incident, four people — including three teenagers — were killed in a high-speed road accident in Bolton early on Sunday morning. The victims included 54-year-old Masrooba Ali, who was driving a Citroën C4 Picasso as a private taxi, and three youths identified as Mohammad Jibral Mukhtar (18), Faran Patel (18), and Mohammad Danyal (19).

Police investigations indicate that a Seat car travelling at excessive speed on the wrong side of the road collided head-on with Ali’s vehicle. Ali died at the scene. Family members and friends described him as a cautious and responsible driver, and preliminary findings suggest he was not at fault.

Five other passengers from the vehicles involved sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment in hospital. Among them, a 29-year-old woman travelling in Ali’s car remains in critical condition.

Motorway Chase and Knife Threat Case: Driver Jailed

Meanwhile, Cheshire Crown Court has sentenced Jake Fagan to four years and eight months in prison for a series of serious offences, including dangerous driving, possession of a knife, criminal damage, and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. The court also disqualified him from driving for five years.

The case stems from an incident on July 18, 2024, in Ellesmere Port, where Fagan and his accomplice Connor Mitchell allegedly threatened a woman with a knife while riding a motorcycle and smashed the window of her car. The pair attempted to flee by driving against the flow of traffic on a motorway to evade police.

During their arrest, the suspects abandoned a bag later found to contain Class A narcotics. The court noted Fagan’s extensive criminal history and described his actions as a grave threat to public safety.

Authorities reiterated that reckless driving, violent intimidation, and drug-related crimes will continue to be met with strict legal consequences as part of broader efforts to enhance public safety across the UK.