Inquiries by ONE News have revealed that the former English barrister charged in connection with an alleged Wellington kidnapping plot left Britain nearly 10 years ago under a cloud.
John Burrett left the seaside town of Whitstable amid concerns about his behaviour in legal circles.
Few people were prepared to talk openly about the top businessman but described his behaviour as "very tenacious and threatening".
Another barrister said Burrett was frightening.
"He would say I am a barrister and if you attack me and proceed or pursue anything against me you will be sued and I'll see you in court," the man told ONE News.
Burrett set up chambers in Canterbury, England, in 1988 with other barristers. But in less than two years his dictatorial manner caused a mass walk out.
"I think we all felt intimidated. I felt he was prepared to go beyond the normal bounds and destroy chambers and take us down with him," the man said.
Five of his former professional colleagues left the business secretly overnight to set up their own legal chambers.
His professional colleagues were so happy when Burrett's business was finally wound up in 1993 that his official name plate was handed to one of them as a trophy.
In 1993 Burrett went to Australia and then on to New Zealand.
His former colleagues say his Whitstable house was repossessed soon after, leaving his mother-in -law out of pocket for the money she invested in the house and without a home.
Burrett also sat on the Canterbury City Council and a former lord mayor and fellow councillor remembers him well.
"People often felt he was not in balance and was easily tipped over in to saying or doing things that were not particularly rational," Jenny Samper said.
And although it has been 10 years since Burrett left England, he was still a talking point in Kent legal circles and the community even before his arrest.
Intended victim's name suppressed
Meanwhile, the name of the man at the centre of the alleged kidnap plot is to stay a secret.
A high court judge on Friday threw out a bid by TVNZ and the Dominion Post newspaper to have name suppression lifted in the public interest.
Justice Hammond said potential harm to the intended victim and his family far outweighs the public interest factor.
The Dominion Post is now considering whether to appeal.
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