Disastrous bogus solicitor jailed for four years

Former law student Khuram Ali, who set up a sham legal practice in Bradford in 2005, acted with “astonishing recklessness and callous disregard” for clients.

After opening Manningham-based KSA Law Partners Ali advised clients about immigration and insolvency, divorces and boundary disputes.

In one case he failed to attend court which resulted in a costs order of almost £20,000 against a client.

The father-of-four then failed to tell the man when a bankruptcy petition was obtained and forged a county court document.

His actions resulted in the client being made bankrupt, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ali, 33, of Avenham Way, Bradford, tricked another client into handing over £8,000 and that victim ended up having to fight bankruptcy proceedings.

He was also involved in perverting the course of justice by trying to obtain divorces for husbands without informing wives.

He admitted a series of offences including being an unqualified person acting as a solicitor, perverting the course of justice, theft, fraud, forgery and obtaining property by deception.

He also pleaded guilty to providing immigration advice and services in breach of the Immigration and Asylum Act.

Judge Robert Bartfield said Ali’s offending demonstrated “utter contempt” for the law.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “Ali acted with astonishing recklessness and a callous disregard for his clients.

“The consequences of his actions were far reaching and sometimes disastrous.”