Anthony Scott WOOD

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

Solicitor admitted in 1984 was convicted on his own plea of two counts of fraud and one count of forgery and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for dishonestly misappropriating clients' trust funds and obtaining loans to cover the misappropriations between 2003 and 2008. The Tribunal found this constituted professional misconduct demonstrating he was not fit and proper to practice, and ordered his name removed from the Roll and payment of $1,500 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Large sums involved - Fidelity Guarantee Fund paid over $1.245 million to defrauded clients
• Abuse of position as trustee of clients' funds
• Sustained conduct between 2003 and 2008
• Managing partner of a law firm

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty to the criminal charges
• Did not oppose the disciplinary orders