A solicitor who cheated clients out of nearly �100,000 has been struck off.

William Stevens was jailed for four years earlier this year at the High Court in Edinburgh after admitting embezzling �96,666.

The Scottish solicitors' discipline tribunal has ordered that his name be struck off the roll of solicitors after the Law Society of Scotland brought a complaint against him.

Stevens, 65, from Edinburgh, was a partner in the city law firm of Bennett and Robertson until he resigned in 1997.

A routine inspection of the firm's books discovered a discrepancy over a payment from a client's account to Visa.

Stevens, a father-of-three, who had appeared to be a pillar of the community and was active in his church, became the subject of a lengthy investigation by detectives.

It was discovered that he had siphoned off cash from the accounts of seven clients, including women aged 91 and 94, for whom he undertook investments and financial planning.

Part of the money went to pay school fees with more used to settle credit card bills and to finance a home extension.

The discipline tribunal said Stevens actions were "wholly unbecoming" of a solicitor.

It noted that although Stevens had "certain assets" the losses suffered by his victims have largely been met at this stage from a lawyers' guarantee fund.