Past comes back to haunt struck off barrister turned Russia commentator
Disbarred for making a series of outlandish assertions - including the claim that he had been kidnapped and blackmailed by one of Britain’s most senior judges - former barrister Alexander Mercouris’ credibility had surely hit rock bottom.
Indeed the Bar Standards Board described his behaviour as “unhelpful and profoundly dishonest”.
Within a few years however Mr Mercouris had managed to reinvent himself, using his powers of persuasion to become a commentator on world affairs for Russian TV news outlets and websites.
He is regularly interviewed by the pro-Putin news channel RT, which is funded by the Russian government, for his views about topics such as the Ukraine crisis, the defection of US whistle-blower Edward Snowden and Syria.
But his past is now threatening to come back to haunt him.
One of Mr Mercouris’s former legal clients is suing him for damages over his “appalling” behaviour towards her in the case which led to him being struck off.
Lorna Jamous is taking the former barrister to court, claiming he caused her psychological and financial damage after lying to her in an action she brought against Westminster Council after her son was taken into care for a year.
