Solicitor Faces Stalking Charges Amid Ongoing Professional Scrutiny
A solicitor previously reported to police for aggressive tactics in leasehold freehold purchases now stands accused of stalking a legal blogger and making unwanted sexual advances. Andrew Milne, 63, appeared at Stratford Magistrates Court in east London, where the criminal case detailed a disturbing pattern of behaviour targeting Daniel Cloake, author of the Mouseinthecourt.co.uk legal blog.
Unwanted Contact and Sexualised Messages
The court heard that between March and August 2024, Milne engaged in stalking behaviour that included emails, letters, voice messages, and a particularly bizarre handwritten note. Prosecutor Reem Khatib read out a series of communications where Milne repeatedly asked Mr Cloake for dates and falsely claimed the blogger had expressed interest in older men.
Mr Cloake, 36, told District Judge Towell: 'This is someone who has a very strange relationship with the truth and was a person not to be trusted.' The unwanted attention escalated to the point where Mr Cloake contacted police after receiving an email suggesting Milne might 'pop' over to his home.
The 'Sex Slave' Note and Threats
One particularly disturbing handwritten note left in Mr Cloake's letter-box stated in capital letters: 'Where are you? LOL LOL LOL. Are you suddenly very shy? I am amazed there is actually a property which can be seized. After you are bankrupt, if you agree to be my total sex slave I will let you live in the garage.'
Mr Cloake told the court he found this note 'incredibly scary' and genuinely feared Milne might come to his house to rape him. The same email that prompted the police report also contained threats of 'substantial damages' ranging from £100,000 to £200,000.
Background of Controversial Freehold Practices
Milne is no stranger to legal controversy, having been accused in Parliament of 'bullying, threatening and harassing' leaseholders. His practice involved buying freeholds of more than 200 properties at auction, then using legal threats to pressure leaseholders into buying them back at massively inflated prices - sometimes as much as £25,000 for assets worth only a few hundred pounds.
Bolton councillor David Grant, who attended the proceedings, told the Daily Mail that Milne had 'plagued a number of elderly residents, playing on their vulnerabilities.' He described Milne's method as looking for technical breaches of covenants, then threatening forfeiture unless leaseholders purchased the freehold from him at exorbitant prices.
Parliamentary Condemnation and Regulatory Scrutiny
Earlier this month, Bolton West MP Phil Brickell raised the matter in the House of Commons, stating: 'For years, solicitor Andrew Milne has been bullying, threatening and harassing leaseholders, including my Horwich constituents, into buying freeholds off him at massively inflated prices - sometimes as much as £25,000 - yet the Solicitors Regulation Authority has done nothing to stop his outrageous behaviour.'
Leader of the House Sir Alan Campbell described the case as 'concerning' and confirmed the Minister for Courts and Legal Services was writing to the SRA for an update on action being taken. Milne was first referred to the SRA in December 2023 after an excoriating judgment from His Honour Judge Keyser KC at Wrexham County Court, who stated: 'I do not consider him to be an honest or credible man. His counter-notice... is redolent of bad faith.'
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The stalking trial has been adjourned until February 2, with the case continuing to attract significant attention. Milne remains under professional investigation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority while facing these criminal charges. The combination of his controversial freehold practices and the serious stalking allegations presents a complex picture of professional misconduct intersecting with criminal behaviour.
As the legal proceedings continue, questions remain about regulatory oversight and protection for both leaseholders facing aggressive legal tactics and individuals subjected to unwanted personal attention from legal professionals. The case highlights broader concerns about professional standards within the legal sector and the mechanisms available to address misconduct that crosses from professional practice into criminal behaviour.
