Andrew William Arthur Bartlett

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

The respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1978 but not in practice at the material time, was convicted at Preston Crown Court on 7 March 1995 of dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol (96 micrograms in breath against a 35 limit) and sentenced to six months' imprisonment (concurrent) plus a two-year driving disqualification. The conviction arose from a February 1993 M55 accident in which his car struck another vehicle, sending it over the central barrier and severely injuring two occupants; he left the scene. The Tribunal found the allegation of conduct unbefitting substantiated (uncontested) and found his testimony unconvincing. It declined to strike him off, partly because the conduct was outside legal practice and there were case uncertainties, instead imposing an indefinite suspension and ordering £910 costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Personal probity and fitness to practise

Aggravating factors:

• Serious accident causing severe injury to two people who were trapped for about an hour
• Respondent left the scene of the accident
• Tribunal found respondent's testimony unconvincing and his version of events inherently improbable
• Tribunal viewed the behaviour in a very grave manner

Mitigating factors:

• Conduct did not take place in the context of practice as a solicitor; respondent had left the profession about three months before the accident
• Some uncertainties surrounding aspects of the case
• Respondent was bankrupt and on income support
• Respondent had voluntarily not driven since the accident
• Respondent expressed regret for injuries caused