Solicitor who stole thousands to fund gambling addiction ordered to repay and do community service

David Nightingale, 32, took the money after saying his father was in mortgage arrears and required a loan to stop him from losing his home.

Mr Nightingale, a criminal defence lawyer at McAfee Solicitors in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire took a total of £12,500 after making the false claims. None of the money has been recovered.

Prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea to a charge that he acquired an additional £3,500 by fraud.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, Sheriff David Bickett ordered Mr Nightingale to undertake 300 hours of unpaid work and to give £7,000 back to his victims.

He was also ordered to seek treatment for his addiction to be kept under supervision for two years.

Elaine Rae, defending, said Mr Nightingale had a further £15,000 in loans he took for his gambling addiction.

However, she asked that he be spared jail so that he can continue with his £18,000 a year job in a call centre and repay the cash.

Sheriff Bicket said: “It is a considerable disappointment to me to see someone who I thought was a promising young solicitor ending up in this position.

“If the plea had not been given early then custody would have been inevitable in this matter.”

Mr Nightingale is no longer registered with the Law Society of Scotland.