A barrister who admitted stealing £81,500 from his former chambers in Manchester has been told that he faces a "substantial" prison sentence.
David Friesner, 46, admitted the theft from Nine St John Street Chambers between October 2008 and November 2009.
He denied a further count of stealing over £13,400, and his plea was accepted at Leeds Crown Court earlier.
The judge, Mr Justice Singh, told Friesner, from Prestwich, that "imprisonment is the likely sentence".
He added: "It's likely to be a substantial period of time."
'Selling his home'
Friesner had been at the chambers for more than 14 years, and among his areas of expertise as a barrister were fraud and money laundering.
He was granted unconditional bail until 10 February, when he will be sentenced.
John Beggs QC, defending, told the court that his client was married with two daughters.
He said Friesner was having to sell his home and wanted to be around to help his family move before he went to prison.
Mr Beggs told the judge: "You can be entirely confident that he will return honourably to face what he knows is coming."
- Published11 February 2011
