A solicitor has been fined £2,000 for breaking legal rules when he acted for two relatives in a dispute over a will.

George Down, 53, landed himself in trouble with the Law Society when he acted for both brother and sister in a probate matter.

When relations turned sour between the siblings, Down continued to work for the woman despite becoming embroiled in a conflict of interest.

He also refused to hand over paperwork for the estate - worth more than £100,000 - to a new law firm when they were instructed to take over the case.

Down was working as a partner at Langhams, in Gildredge Road, Eastbourne, at the time, the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal in London heard.

George Marriott, for the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, said Down was asked to handle the will of a man known as Mr ADC in December 1998.

Shortly afterwards, Down informed the client that he had been in contact with his sister.

He said: "The executor made it plain in late July 1999 that Mr Down was instructed by him and he instructed him to no longer correspond with his sister.

"He pointed out that if he accepted instructions from both of them it could constitute a conflict of interest situation."

The tribunal heard Down did not reply to his letter.

By October 1999, Mr ADC decided to terminate his legal dealings with Down and employ another solicitor.

Down was then asked to release documents for the estate and also a large stamp collection to Mr ADC's new lawyers.

Mr Marriott said: "But he refused to release the papers or the stamp collection to the new firm."

Down also received instructions to carry out legal work for the sister against her brother.

Mr Marriott added: "He was clearly acting in a conflict situation.

"He should have declined to act for the beneficiary and should have got her to instruct a fresh set of solicitors."

The tribunal was told that Down finally handed over the papers but was reported to the Law Society for his conduct.

Down, who attended the hearing, now works as an associate solicitor for Stephen Rimmer and Co, based in Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne.

He admitted six allegations, including acting in a situation where there was a risk of a conflict of interest, failing to deal promptly with correspondence and compromising or impairing the good repute of the profession.

Peter Ross, defending, said Down had been motivated by a desire to settle the estate without excessive expenses.

He added: "What happened is a matter of deep regret to my client.

"He developed a complete blind spot in relation to this estate."

Fining Down £2,000, tribunal chair Teresa Cullen said: "The rules are there to provide the public with protection and to ensure solicitors can be relied upon to behave well and promptly and deal with matters professionally."