John Andrew Blake

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

John Andrew Blake, admitted 1988, practised at Cannon Silver Quastel. An SCB investigation found a client account shortfall of £390,404.70 arising from misuse of sale proceeds, breaches of undertakings to Coutts & Co., misuse of stakeholder monies, unallocated payments and a debit balance. He also abused the court process. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated and accepted he had adopted a wholly dishonest course of conduct. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £966.80 plus Investigation Accountant's charges of £5,251.83. The respondent did not appear; his adjournment request was refused.

Duties found breached:

• No abuse of process or coercive powers
• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Cash shortage on client account exceeding £390,404.70
• Immediate loss caused to clients
• Multiple undertakings breached, including to Coutts & Co.
• Abuse of court process by filing a bare denial knowing no defence existed
• Confirmation of dishonesty by former partners

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=6218.63"]