A CITY centre solicitors practice in Worcester specialising in divorce and family law has been closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after its owner was convicted of tax fraud.

Simply Solicitors, which had an office in Edgar Street, near Worcester Cathedral, was run by Dianna Lee, who is also known as Dianna Gerald, Donna Gerald, Diana Gerhold and Diane Glackin.

The SRA's intervention came a month after Ms Lee was convicted of four counts of fraud by false representation at Manchester Crown Court after wrongfully claiming £37,000 in income tax payments.

During the trial, the court was told she had falsified evidence and documentation relating to her self-assessment tax claims.

The SRA has also intervened into Ms Lee's firm Family Law Consultants Ltd, which traded as Simply Solicitors, which also had an office in The Promenade in Cheltenham.

It said the reasons for the intervention were that there was "reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Dianna Lee in connection with her practice"; that she had failed to comply with one of its principles and to protect the interests of the firm's clients.

The intervention means the regulator has closed the firm with immediate effect and taken possession of all documents and money it holds, including those belonging to clients.

The SRA will now complete its investigation and decide on the appropriate course of action.

There is no timescale for how long this work will take.

Should it decide to instigate disciplinary proceedings following the intervention, it could issue a sanction including a reprimand or a £2,000 fine.

If a stiffer punishment is required, the SRA can prosecute the matter at the independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal which can issue larger fines and is the only body that can order a solicitor to be removed from the roll.

According to its website, Simply Solicitors specialised in civil litigation, divorce and family law, and had presences in London and Birmingham together with its Cheltenham and Worcester offices.

Susie Dryden of Blake Morgan has been appointed as intervening agent to deal with matters currently held by Family Law Consultants Ltd.