A Ventnor man who breached his criminal behaviour order, which prohibits him from dialling 999, found himself before the courts last week, where he told a judge that all solicitors on the Isle of Wight are allegedly ‘corrupt’.
Michael Clifton-Smith, 38, of High Street, appeared before the Isle of Wight Crown Court for sentencing last Friday (31st July) in relation to breaches of his criminal behaviour order.
As reported by Island Echo, Clifton-Smith previously pleaded guilty to 3 counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order, which was imposed back in November 2024 in a bid to stop him from calling 999 unless it is for a genuine reason.
He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and a public order offence at the Magistrates Court, where it was heard he used insulting, abusive and threatening words and behaviour with the intention of causing a Ventnor woman to fear violence.
Defending himself in the Crown Court, Clifton-Smith told the judge that he can no longer get a duty solicitor on the Island, quoting corruption and hatred as the reason why no one will defend him.
Clifton-Smith has been a familiar face in court for his nuisance calls to the emergency services in recent years.
He told the court that he thinks all solicitors on the Isle of Wight are corrupt, going on to say:
“They don’t want to do their job; their excuse is conflict of interest – they all hate me.”
He offered no evidence to support his claims.
As a result of this, he asked Recorder Jaron Crooknorth if his sentencing could be moved to Portsmouth in order for him to obtain legal representation.
However, after the court had agreed to grant Clifton-Smith his wish of sentencing in Portsmouth, he complained that he had only been given 3-4 weeks to find representation, saying “that’s going to cost me a lot of money”.
He said that he wishes they would give him longer, as his benefits would not allow him to make multiple journeys within the month.
Michael Clifton-Smith was bailed until the adjourned sentencing date of 28th August.
















































































that useless,no good, workshy layabout should get a job himself instead of being an unwanted burden on society
Would you employ him?
Its nothing to do with you being a pain in the arse and even when a solicitor will speak to you, you won’t take their advice, even though you a guilty, but doesn’t want to take any punishment for it. At the end of August you will be sentenced. Solicitor or not. Hopefully you will also be done for wasting the courts time and any fine will reflect this.
He will end up with a £50 fine and be on good behaviour for 18 months. Just stop his benefits and the benefits of 50% of the island
Two sarnies short of the proverbial..
No one should ever waste Emergency services time
it could costs lives.
People should only ring such organisations in the event of an
Emergency.
I think most people would “hate you” you really are the lowest of the low, admit you have done wrong. This person is quite simply a nasty piece of work, and not the full ticket.
Shame ..they closed all the nut houses..that worked out well.
How is it going to cost him a lot of money? when he’s getting free handouts from benefits. Why do they pay such waste of space free handouts? He should be charged for the services money he has wasted. Who’s going to cop the bill for the case going to Portsmouth, us mugs again I suppose?
Do us all a favour
I don’t agree with his what he’s doing or what he’s trying to achieve. However….. I could tell an absolute horror story about what a well respected, now retired, very well known Ryde solicitor did to a grieving family many years ago. Absolutely corrupt, and still talked about with admiration even now. Dishonest as they come, it does make me question how I could ever trust anyone in his position.
What’s the story?
Personally from what I have experienced over the years
from the majority of Island Organisations apart from a few.
I always use mainland companies, cheaper and more reliable.
Same applies to NHS if you can travel to the mainland for
treatment well worth it.
Everything seems to run more smoothly and more professionally
on the mainland.
This particular solicitor wasn’t chosen, he intervened.
Obviously, I cant go into details publicly, because of the nature of what he did, apart from being completely dishonest, it was unethical and unprofessional.
Conveyancing solicitor by any chance?
Just Section Him .
If they reckon it’s an addiction these phone calls he’s been making on and off for years then put him in an addiction clinic somewhere for a long long time and give the emergency services a well deserved break from the idiot.
Why is this type of waste of space scum, getting given more free handouts and benefits than some mug working on only half as much wages?
Ok oh I wonder why!?!?!!
low life scum bag! Get a life instead of sitting on your lazy backside making vile nuisance calls to emergency services! What the heck do you think you are doing?
Not just solicitors who hate you, just saying you idiot!!!