Roland Joseph Heslop-Gill
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number9199/2005
Date01/01/2005
OutcomeStrike off
Allegation / charges
Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionStrike Off
CostsGBP 1,529
Dishonesty foundYes
The Respondent, a partner at Jefferson Willan & Co, made improper and dishonest withdrawals from both client and office account to cover personal liabilities (bank, credit card, Inland Revenue, and utility commitments), in breach of a partners' agreement limiting drawings, and caused false entries in the books of account. He did not dispute the allegations and did not intend to practise again. The Tribunal found a deliberate and dishonest course of action and ordered him struck off the Roll plus costs of £1,528.75.
Duties found breached:
- Honesty
- No improper use of client money
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- No improper solicitation or touting
Aggravating factors:
- Conduct was repetitive, improper and dishonest
- Deliberate and dishonest course of action
- Misuse of both client and office account funds
Mitigating factors:
- Partners corrected all breaches as soon as identified and made good any losses
- Did not dispute the allegations
- Had not renewed his Practising Certificate and did not intend to practise again
- Made general admissions