City lawyer Christopher Grierson jailed after stealing £1.2m

A senior City lawyer has been jailed for three years after stealing £1.2m from his former firm Hogan Lovells through travel expenses.

The court heard that Christopher Grierson had suffered depression since 2005, which led to "bizarre" decisions, including lavishing £630,000 on a mistress in New York and running up debts. He then made bogus claims on his firm to "bridge the gap".

The judge said yesterday his behaviour was in part due to his illness. He has now paid back the stolen cash through a loan from a client.