WHEN Keith Anderson was awarded £1.8M damages as a result of a horrific road accident leaving him paralysed from the chest down it was small compensation for the life of dependency he faced. With good financial advice and careful management it may have paid for the care he needed but Mr Anderson did not get good financial advice he got a crooked solicitor.

Thomas McGoldrick of Faulkners Lane, Mobberley, systematically cheated Mr Anderson out of over £1M before the Law Society called in the police.

Described by investigating officers as ‘selfish, greedy and completely shameless’ McGoldrick even forged a letter purporting to come from his client saying he wanted to give half of his damages award to his lawyer as a gift.

The jury at Manchester Crown Court did not believe him and McGoldrick is to be sentenced on April 7.

Can there be any worse crime than cheating a paralysed man out of money desperately needed for a lifetime of care? Thomas McGoldrick deceived, lied and stole without any regard for his client’s welfare but this was not the first time McGoldrick had been involved in dubious accounting.

In 1997 he was criticised by the Law Society after ‘losing’ more than £40K from a client’s account. This was followed by a number of other misdemeanours relating to McGoldrick’s accounts yet no-one thought to advise the vulnerable Mr Anderson.

Thomas McGoldrick continued to live a lavish lifestyle right up until the time of his arrest with never a thought for the anguish and distress he caused his innocent victim.

Let us hope Mr McGoldrick is given ample time to contemplate.

The views expressed on this page are Vic Barlow's and not necessarily those of the Express