William David Moore

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

The Respondent, a sole practitioner solicitor, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court on eleven counts of dishonesty (making a false instrument, six thefts, four counts of false accounting) involving over £68,000 stolen from clients over three years, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The Law Society had intervened in his practice in 1999 on grounds of incapacity. He did not appear but admitted the matter through a letter from his wife. The Tribunal found dishonesty proven, struck him off the Roll and ordered £350 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Theft in course of solicitor's practice going to heart of solicitor-client relationship
• Total sum stolen over £68,000
• Offences committed repeatedly over a three-year period
• Repeated deceptions on clients and practice records

Mitigating factors:

• Ill health and depression
• Severe financial pressure
• Suicide attempt
• Sentencing judge expressed hope for rehabilitation