A conman who posed as a barrister for almost 20 years was jailed last week.
43-year-old Amir Saleem built his career on a forged law degree, which he used to get on courses at BPP and the College of Law. He conned women with whom he’d had relationships out of tens of thousands of pounds by claiming to run his own law firm, to be a qualified neurosurgeon and to live in a mansion with a fleet of luxury cars. In reality he was unqualified and lived in a spare room at his parents’ house.
Saleem was rumbled when acting for a client in Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre. Despite successfully representing his client (who was awarded almost £8,000), Saleem’s inability to understand basic legal terms alerted his opponent. And his inability to spell “Gray’s Inn” alerted the judge. The police were called, and after an 11 month investigation Saleem pleaded guilty to seven counts of deception and one of carrying out a reserved legal activity
Kevin Neary solicitor Newry .
