A SOLICITOR has been arrested over claims he posted cannabis to one of his clients.

Police called at the practice of Denis Whalley after his clients handed over the drugs.

Carol and Peter Longstaff, from Jesmond, Newcastle, appointed Mr Whalley as their solicitor more than two years ago to take up their fight for compensation over the use of contaminated blood products on the NHS.

Mr Longstaff, 45, a haemophiliac, became infected with the HIV virus and hepatitis C after being treated with blood imported into the UK in the 1970s and 1980s.

Through his contact with the couple, Mr Whalley represents almost 200 haemophiliacs in the UK and another 50 in Europe and Egypt.

Yesterday, the couple spoke of their shock when the parcel arrived. Mrs Longstaff, 43, said: "We never expected to find something like this in the parcel and immediately handed it to police."

Northumbria Police contacted Merseyside Police who arrested Mr Whalley, of Anderson Eden solicitors, in Preston, Lancashire, on Monday on suspicion of supplying a controlled drug.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled drugs."

Formerly a partner with J Keith Park and Company, in Liverpool, Mr Whalley has represented many North-East clients over the years.

In 2000, he took on the case of former paramedic Gary Maddock, from Middlesbrough, who claimed he was a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder after years of dealing with crash victims.

In 2001, he took on the case of three whistleblowers who claimed their lives had been ruined after they uncovered the mental and physical abuse of children with severe learning disabilities at a care home in Newcastle.

A spokesman from Anderson Eden refused to comment yesterday.