Daniel Richard Dennis

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

The Respondent, a salaried partner at Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors, was convicted on 26 January 2012 at Manchester Crown Court of two counts of dishonestly making a false representation under Section 2 Fraud Act 2006, having dishonestly diverted 33 cheques totalling £46,700 to his own bank account over two and a half years, funds that should have gone to his partners. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment on each count (concurrent). The Tribunal found the allegation proved (also admitted by the Respondent), found dishonesty for his own benefit affecting his partners and an innocent third party, found no exceptional circumstances under Sharma, and struck him off the Roll. He was ordered to pay costs of £1,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty for the Respondent's own benefit over a sustained period
• 33 occasions over two and a half years totalling £46,700
• Impact on partners of the firm and significant impact on an innocent third party
• Abuse of trust placed in him by his partners

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty
• Fully co-operated with the inquiry from the outset