EMBATTLED socialite Sylvia Ireland is fighting tooth and nail to reclaim over R1-million worth of bling she gave her divorce lawyer as security for payment over two years ago.

She gave the eight gold and diamond pieces to attorney Charl Coetzee because she didn't have cash to pay him for her nasty divorce from late perfume tycoon Stuart Ireland.

Stuart, who died in the middle of the divorce battle two years ago, was the sole distributor of luxury fragrance brands such as Dior, Chanel and Lacoste in SA.

His multimillion-rand estate is still being wound up.

Coetzee represented Sylvia in September 2009, when Stuart entered their matrimonial home with lawyers, an animal welfare representative and a sheriff of the court in tow.

He demanded household items and was fighting for custody of their pet mongrel, Jack, but he died before the spat over assets was finalised.

At the time, Sylvia did not have cash and gave Coetzee three rings and five bracelets as security.

Two years later, she claims that she is still waiting to be "properly billed" by Coetzee.

But Coetzee denies her claims.

Said Sylvia: "I should have known not to do it. I should have trusted my gut."

She submitted an affidavit to the Claremont police station last year stating: "I managed to reach Charl Coetzee, who came through to represent me. However, before he would help me with anything, he demanded diamonds as security. He will not return my e-mails, and my requests that he return my jewellery."

Sylvia then lodged a complaint against him with the Cape Law Society, which recently found him guilty of unprofessional conduct and bringing the attorneys' profession into disrepute.

Coetzee has, in turn, called for a disciplinary inquiry by the society into the matter, effectively suspending the finding until the outcome of the new hearing.

Coetzee said this week: "A disciplinary hearing has been requested. In the circumstances, the matter is sub judice."

Sylvia is also embroiled in a fight with her former psychiatrist, Dr Ray Berard. He appeared before the Health Professions Council of SA last month on five counts of unprofessional conduct after allegedly having sex with her in therapy sessions funded by her late husband at R1295 an hour. Berard has denied wrongdoing.