Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Solicitor Posed as Police Officer to Get Nando's CCTV and Receives Community Order

The conviction may prompt the Solicitors Regulation Authority to open disciplinary proceedings against him.

Overview

  • Johnstone called a Nando’s in Stockton Heath on July 22, 2025, claiming to be “PC Matt Gregory” and asked staff for CCTV to identify two customers.
  • He supplied a fake Cheshire Police email that included a crest and collar number and later pressed staff by email after signing a release form.
  • Staff became suspicious when emails to the address bounced and they rang Cheshire Police, which led detectives to trace the temporary domain purchase to Johnstone.
  • Leeds Magistrates’ Court found Conor Johnstone guilty of impersonating a police officer and on August 3, 2026 handed him a 12‑month community order, £650 costs, a £114 surcharge and 260 hours of supervised unpaid work.
  • Johnstone, who runs MAJ Law and uses the nickname 'The Legal Missile,' says he will appeal and the SRA has said it will now consider what regulatory action to take; investigators highlighted that temporary domain purchases can leave personal data that links online impersonation to a real person.