P G Stonelake & 2 Others

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

Peter Gareth Stonelake, a solicitor already indefinitely suspended, was employed as a legal clerk by Keppe Rofer subject to strict s.41(4) conditions. He admitted overcharging client RJW, wrongly withdrawing client monies (73 transfers totalling £4,490.10) and breaching s.41(4) conditions, but denied dishonesty. The Tribunal expressly found him dishonest under the Twinsectra test, holding he ran the Aberdare office to suit himself and used improper transfers to service the office overdraft. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £5,581.50 costs. The Second Respondent [SECOND RESPONDENT], who admitted breaching s.41(4) by failing to supervise Stonelake, was suspended for 3 months (mitigated by medical/personal circumstances) and ordered to pay £4,651.25 costs. The Third Respondent [THIRD RESPONDENT], a partner with limited culpability, was reprimanded and ordered to pay £930.25 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Already suspended indefinitely from practice with previous Tribunal findings (2004)
• Made 73 improper transfers from client account totalling £4,490.10
• Breached conditions of employment from the very first day
• Concealed transfers and abrogated accounts responsibility to bookkeeper
• Overcharged a client