MARCUS Nickson’s fall from grace has been truly spectacular.
A legal high-flyer, whose successful litigation often ended with damages awards running into millions of pounds, he was widely regarded as a leader in his field - skilled at building cases, confident in his legal craft, and completely trustworthy.
But behind the smiles and pin-striped suits, Nickson cynically took advantage of two of his most vulnerable clients.
As the 66-year-old sat in the dock of the Preston court where he had won his first £1 million damages payout, his barrister David Whittaker outlined just how far this once hotshot lawyer had fallen. Nickson’s guilty pleas were proof of his remorse, he said.
The barrister described the defendant in glowing terms. “He put an enormous amount of work into those two cases,” he said, referring to the clients Nickson stole from. Mr Whittaker challenged the judge’s description of the lawyer’s thefts as a “complex web of deception.”
He said: “It was the antithesis of sophistication. There was no attempt at deception. He told his clients what he was doing. He just didn’t tell them why.”
Nickson did not personally benefit, and took only a fraction of the cash he stole, said the barrister, claiming that much went to the firm. He outlined Nickson’s health problems - including depression and bowel cancer, now cured.
Most controversial perhaps was mitigation in which the barrister linked Nickson’s depression to “work pressures”.
“He was pushed hard by his partner,” said Mr Whittaker. “He spoke of being bullied by him.”
In recent days, those near to Nickson feared he may harm himself. “Financially, he’s been ruined,” continued Mr Whittaker.
“The bank has taken his home, having obtained a judgement against him for a £500,000 business debt from KJ Commons & Co. The bank is satisfied there is no more money.”
Watching from the public gallery were former KJ Commons & Co directors David and Lorraine Thompson, who hinted at the fallout from Nickson’s crimes. “We had to make 55 people redundant,” said Mrs Thompson. Many of those staff - including herself - had now left the legal profession, she added, clearly still furious with Nickson.
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