Our Response to Recent Online Harassment and Misinformation
It is with great regret that AST finds it necessary to make this public statement. However, due to a prolonged and distressing campaign of harassment and defamation targeting our company, our founder, and his family, we feel it is important to provide clarity and reassurance to our clients, partners, and wider community.
Background
In August 2023, AST made the professional decision to cease representing a client due to ongoing hostility and inappropriate conduct, including serious and concerning comments regarding a tenant.
Following this, the individual began a sustained campaign aimed at discrediting our business and damaging our reputation.
False Allegations and Online Activity
The campaign has involved:
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The creation of fake online profiles
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The publication of misleading and defamatory content
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The submission of multiple false reports to regulatory bodies, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
We cooperated fully with the SRA, which conducted a thorough investigation and subsequently closed the matter, finding no grounds for further action.
Escalation Beyond the Professional Sphere
Unfortunately, the harassment has not been limited to online activity or professional complaints. Our founder has been the subject of repeated malicious incidents, including:
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False emergency service reports leading to unnecessary visits from police, ambulance, and fire services
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A false death notification being sent to a local funeral director personally known to our founder
These actions have caused considerable distress to those involved and disrupted both personal and professional lives.
The Broader Context
The persistent nature of this behaviour is difficult to comprehend and, in tone and intensity, draws uncomfortable parallels with real-world accounts of sustained harassment recently highlighted in the media.
Our Actions
We have engaged professional investigators to collect evidence for legal action, both civil and criminal. The individual responsible is believed to be operating from abroad and reportedly using VPN services to conceal their location. We are also aware that other organisations may have encountered similar behaviour from the same source.
Our Position
Recently, our legal representatives received direct communication from this individual, in which they threatened to continue publishing defamatory content unless certain financial demands were met. We will not yield to coercion or intimidation.
We remain confident in the legal process and are committed to pursuing all appropriate avenues to protect our business, our team, and our clients.
A Request for Support and a thank you to our clients who know us
We are sharing this statement to provide context and transparency. We ask that anyone who encounters misinformation online remain cautious and, if in doubt, contact us directly for clarification.
We are grateful for the continued support and understanding of our clients, colleagues, and the wider community. AST remains fully committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, and we will not allow this campaign to detract from the important work we do every day.
Yours sincerely,
AST Assistance