A Cumbrian lawyer who specialises in high-value medical negligence litigation has been charged with stealing more than £700,000 from clients.

Marcus Nickson is expected to go on trial next month.

A former director and partner at the KJ Commons law firm which had offices in west Cumbria and in Carlisle, he has denied two allegations of false accounting.

Prosecutors have alleged that he falsified documents relating to the legal costs of two clients.

But in a hearing last week before Preston Crown Court, the prosecution confirmed that the 65-year-old faces three fresh allegations.

Nickson, of Blencogo, Wigton, is charged with a third fraud, involving about £20,000; and also with two counts of theft from clients.

The amount involved for the first alleged theft is £606,000; while the sum involved in the second theft charge is £104,000.

Nickson has yet to enter a plea to the three new charges.

In the meantime, Judge Simon Lancaster ruled that the case should be set down for a trial in Preston which will get underway on November 5.

The News & Star understands there are two alleged victims.

A qualified lawyer since 1977, with more than 30 years’ professional experience, Nickson was for many years a leading light with KJ Commons & Co, and a close personal friend of the firm’s founder Kevin Commons.

Mr Commons was among the 12 people murdered by Derrick Bird during his shooting rampage in west Cumbria in 2010.

Nickson said the tragedy was a devastating blow. KJ Commons & Co closed in 2014.

During his career, Nickson has played a leading role in numerous high-profile medical negligence cases.

Several have involved Cumbrian health trusts, with some cases relating to alleged blunders at the acute hospitals in both Carlisle and Whitehaven.

His crown court trial in Preston, which will include evidence from financial experts, is expected to last four weeks.