A solicitor who impersonated a police officer to obtain CCTV footage from a Nando’s restaurant and spy on his ex-girlfriend has been ordered to complete 260 hours of community service.
Conor Johnstone, 34, was found guilty of impersonating a police officer following a trial at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. The court heard that Johnstone created a fake police email account and used a false name to contact Nando's staff. He claimed to be a police constable investigating an incident between two customers the previous day.
The bogus email address, ‘[email protected],’ included a signature with the Cheshire Police crest and details for ‘PC Gregory,’ including his collar number and job title as a ‘Family liaison officer with the domestic violence unit.’
Nando's staff initially engaged with the request, with one employee describing Johnstone as sounding professional. However, when they attempted to respond to the emails, they found they were not being delivered. Suspecting an issue, a Nando's staff member contacted Cheshire Police on the non-emergency 101 number, where they were informed that no officer named PC Matt Gregory was in the force.
An investigation by Cheshire Police revealed that Johnstone had purchased the temporary email domain using his personal details, which led officers directly to him. During his police interview, Johnstone, who is known for his work defending clients against drink and drug driving charges, reportedly refused to answer questions.
Johnstone, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, was handed a 12-month community order, ordered to pay £650 in court costs, and a £114 victim surcharge. He now faces potential disciplinary action from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which could lead to him being referred to a tribunal and struck off the roll of solicitors.
Detective Constable Darroch of Cheshire Police stated that Johnstone was “playing pretend police officer” and was well aware his actions were illegal. The officer noted that Johnstone exploited the trust of Nando's employees who believed they were assisting with an official investigation.
During the trial, prosecutor Nicki Forster suggested Johnstone sought the CCTV footage to spy on his ex-partner, India Boydell, who was pregnant at the time. Johnstone denied this, claiming his ex-partner may have created the fake emails to spy on him and his new partner. The magistrates rejected his account.
Johnstone, who calls himself ‘The Legal Missile,’ is the owner and director of MAJ Law in Widnes. The firm specializes in defending drivers accused of driving offenses, and its website mentions discussing potential legal loopholes. Johnstone has previously defended high-profile clients, including ex-Liverpool striker Dean Saunders. In 2018, his firm was criticized by the road safety charity Brake for its online videos assisting motorists in avoiding drink or drug driving bans.
Following the guilty verdict, Johnstone expressed his disappointment and stated his intention to appeal the decision. An SRA spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the case and will gather information from the criminal trial to determine next steps.