Matthew Jones

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

Matthew Jones, a non-solicitor clerk employed by Goldstones Solicitors, had conduct of client Mr P's criminal appeal. He failed to lodge the appeal papers, then misled both his client and employers, and forged a Court of Appeal Judge's Order purporting to refuse leave to appeal, which he handed to the imprisoned client. He was dismissed for gross misconduct and later convicted on his own confession of perverting the course of justice, receiving a six-month suspended sentence. The Tribunal found the uncontested allegations substantiated, expressly characterised his behaviour as dishonest, and made a Section 43 order restricting his future employment in the solicitors' profession, ordering him to pay fixed costs of £1,400.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Disclose adverse law to the court
• Prosecutorial duty of disclosure
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Forgery of a court document
• Criminal conviction for perverting the course of justice (six months' imprisonment suspended for two years)

Mitigating factors:

• Self-reported his conviction to the Applicant
• Showed remorse and contrition
• Considerable delay in proceedings put extra pressure on him
• Difficult financial position with young family
• Allegations not contested