A judge yesterday said former West Yorkshire deputy coroner Alan Benstock, 51, who admitted stealing more than £43,000, was motivated by the desire to live beyond his means.

The YEP understands that included a four-bedroom luxury north Leeds home, private school fees for his daughter and private health care for his family as well as a business trip to America, and numerous first class trips to London.

And on at least one of those business trips, Benstock is understood to have visited a Jermyn Street barber used by The Prince of Wales.

Benstock, a former president of Wakefield Law Society and a wills and probate specialist, was yesterday jailed for 22 months after admitting nine charges of theft at Leeds Crown Court.

The offences took place during a four month period in 2006 when he worked at Lister Croft solicitors in Wakefield.

Richard Mansell, prosecuting, told the court how Benstock misappropriated funds from the estates of three of his former clients, whom he had been appointed to oversee following their deaths.

Benstock put the money into an account set up in the name of Lister Croft Charitable Trust.

But the court heard how the trust was never registered with the Charities Commission and he kept it secret from the rest his colleagues.
Money was then paid out of the account into bank accounts held jointly by him and his wife and his daughter.

A total of £16,250 was also paid to a market research company who carried out cold calling to members of the public in a bid to drum up more wills and probate business for his legal firm.

Benstock's wrong doing came to light in September 2006 when senior partner Neil McCloud received information about the secret bank account and he was expelled from the partnership.

The following month he repaid the stolen money after re-mortgaging his home and loaning money from his in-laws.

But he was arrested in February 2007 and later charged following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police's economic crime unit

The court heard that Benstock, of Wensleydale Court, Chapel Allerton, Leeds was now working part time in a book store and due to be struck off as a solicitor.

He had resigned from the public office as a deputy coroner.
Jeremy Barnett, mitigating, claimed there had been no evidence of extravagant or high living and the funds had been repaid.

Mr Barnett said that Benstock had serious debts but was refusing to take the easy option of going bankrupt and had been working to repay his creditors.

He said the disgraced lawyer had been living a "lonely existence" in a small flat and had suffered health problems, including receiving treatment for depression.

Mr Barnett said: "The term a 'broken man' is well used in these courts but I do submit that on this occasion it is right."

He added: "He has lost his family, his home, his health and, above all, his reputation."

Judge Penelope Belcher received references on Benstock's behalf West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff, Rabbi Daniel Levy and former colleagues from the legal profession.

But jailing him, judge Belcher told Benstock he had committed a serious breach of trust.

She told him: "You were undoubtedly motivated by the desire to live beyond your means."

Mr Benstock's wife Sarah Glynn divorced him in 2007 because of the investigation