An employee at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co was slammed last week after his employer discovered that he was selling their printer toner online. According to the man's LinkedIn account, he has been working as a mapping services supervisor for the company for the past 15 years.
Legal Cheek reports that Andrew Cook from Pelsall in the West Midlands, was busted by the toner supplier for selling the printer toner of the company on eBay. The toner supplier that made the discovery reported Cook's employer at the Birmingham office. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) reported that former supervisor had received £227.34 for selling the printer toner after paying £3 of eBay fees. An investigation had been launched, which led Cook to pay the amount into the bank account of the firm.
In May of last year, the firm decided to dismiss Cook from the firm. With the investigation coming to a close, the SRA has decided to bar Cook from working in the legal industry in the future. According to the SRA, his dishonest conduct makes him undesirable "to be involved in a legal practice in the future." If Cook decides to work in the profession, he will have to seek the permission from the SRA.
Cook's dishonest conduct is used a salutary reminder by the SRA that individuals don't need to be a solicitor before they can be barred from working in a profession similar to it. In Cook's case, it certainly proves to be true.
When Wragge was asked about the incident, they responded that due to reasons of confidentiality, they were unable to discuss former employees. But on Law Gazette, the international firm confirmed that Cook had already left the company. There has been no explanation from Cook as to why he decided to sell the printer toner without the consent of his employer.
