From Solicitor to Stalker…

The Solicitor Andrew Jonathan Milne has been found guilty of stalking without fear a blogger, amounting to harassment.

It has been said that he sent approximately 124 separate communications to the blogger. This was through emails, voicemails, birthday gifts and sightings of Milne outside the blogger’s house. Many of these communications contained aggressive threats and uninvited sexual innuendos.

Milne had argued that the blogger had told Milne that he loved him, and it was actually the blogger who was stalking him. The judge subsequently rejected this notion, and further viewed the blogger’s silence in response to the communications, as clear that the contact from Milne was unwelcome.

Developing from this conviction was an acknowledgement from the SRA, that said ‘'We are aware of the conviction and are deeply concerned to see this serious development in the context of existing, but separate issues over Mr Milne’s conduct. Our focus remains on protecting the public and we will continue to take steps necessary to do so.' In terms of the ‘separate issues’, this seems to be a concern that there have been threats by Milne towards leaseholders of freeholds acquired by Milne. MP Phil Brickell has said that Milne had been ‘bullying, threatening and harassing’ leaseholders into buying freeholds from him at much higher prices. As a result the MPs have pushed for the removal of Mr Milne’s practicing licence.