[2][7][8] In 1864, Levy's uncle, Charles Lewis, under whom he had served as an articled clerk, unsuccessfully attempted to have him struck off the Rolls of Court for unprofessional practices relating to costs and witnesses' expenses.
[9][10][11] In 1866, a warrant was issued for Levy's arrest for forging a bill of exchange, but he went abroad and the police were unable to find him until 1870 when he was discovered living in Liverpool under the assumed name of Edward Lingden.
He was tried for deception and forgery at the Old Bailey in July 1870, but acquitted on the ground that the jury believed he had sufficient authority to use the name of the drawer of the bill.
For example, in one case involving a compensation claim from a railway company, they recovered £600 in costs and damages, but paid out only half of this to their client.
[14][15] Also in 1875, Levy was accused of bribing witnesses to commit perjury in an injury compensation claim against the London General Omnibus Company, but he again escaped conviction.
He had set up a business lending small sums of money, and had induced a young debtor named Brett to steal furnishing materials from his employer in order to meet his repayments.
[28][29] At the end of his life, he had sunk to lending small sums of just a few pounds, preying on the young and naive, and receiving stolen goods of low value which he needed because of his own reduced circumstances.