Disgraced Solicitors charged...

... Solicitors can you trust them read on!!

A top defence lawyer who specialises in representing drug dealers has been convicted of buying cocaine from one of his own clients.

Basharat Ditta, 42, was arrested at his home following a police surveillance operation into the activities of a suspected drug trafficker.

Officers saw the suspected dealer dropping off three bags of cocaine - hidden inside a black golf glove - at the lawyer's home in Blackburn, Lancashire, whilst he was out at a Law Society dinner with colleagues.

Inquiries revealed that Ditta was a 'regular user' of the Class A drug after tests found traces of cocaine in his hair, on his wallet and on his credit cards.

At South Sefton magistrates court, Merseyside, Ditta - who also defends clients facing murder charges - looked crestfallen as he admitted three offences of possessing cocaine.

He was ordered to abide by a three-month curfew order but he now faces possible disciplinary action from the Solicitor's Regulation Authority.

The range of penalties available to the solicitor's regulation Authority ranges from small fines to imposing conditions on his license to practice.

The strongest punishment available is for a solicitor to be struck off, should the case be deemed serious enough for referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and this is likely to be viewed as a very serious case.

The court heard how Ditta, who works at law firm Forbes Solicitors, based in Blackburn, had earlier said he would 'strenuously contest the charge', but later had a change of heart.

The lawyer's career hit the buffers after policed investigating the suspected drug dealer - who cannot be named for legal reasons - discovered he had been in regular phone contact with Ditta last February.

Two detectives trailed the suspect and saw him arriving at Ditta's house in a Silver Volkswagen Golf where he was seen to place the drugs, which had a purity of 60 per cent, under the lawyer's bins.

Soon after the drop off, the suspected dealer was in regular phone contact with Ditta who had been at the dinner at the Blackburn Rovers football stadium.