Posted by . The secrets of Stephen David Jones
Many people who met the solicitor described him to Hettie O’Brien as an English gentleman, making it easy to gain the trust of wealthy clients. But, as she writes here, he was actually stealing from them. An extraordinary read.
(The Guardian, approx 34 mins reading time)
From the outset, Jones was eager to assist. He suggested that Jirehouse become a partner in the Feddinch Club, and arranged for McKay to fly to New York and meet some investors and an architect. McKay had never worked on a project of this scale before, and was keen to secure financing, so he brought Jirehouse on board as a partner. “My dad’s his own worst enemy,” said McKay’s son, Bruce. “If he meets somebody who appears successful, he’ll take their advice.”
In early 2013, McKay decided to move closer to St Andrews to be nearer to the golf course. He found a bungalow with a wide view of the site and the sea beyond. On Jones’s instructions, Scotia would be listed on the deeds for McKay’s new home, just as it had been for his house in Angus. Shortly before the purchase went through, however, Jones told McKay there had been a change of plan. Instead of Scotia’s name appearing on the property deeds, Jones and another Jirehouse colleague would be listed as the property’s owners. McKay panicked when he heard this, but Jones reassured him. Jirehouse would be holding the house on trust for him and his family, he said, so it would still technically belong to them. McKay continued to worry. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t him who owned his new house – it was Jones.
Who Watches the Watchers? 