Derek George Duncan Heys Thompson

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1978 and partner at Widdows Mason, wrongfully withdrew client monies belonging to a minor (B) to pay other clients (H and J) to cover his own errors in missing limitation deadlines, and to meet counsel's fees on another matter (A-J), misleadingly recording payments on the ledger. He also retrospectively created a file note after a client complaint (HX), replacing the original, and provided the altered note to his firm's Client Services Manager, thereby misleading the firm and obstructing the complaint. He self-reported and admitted all three allegations and dishonesty (accepting the Twinsectra tests were met). The Tribunal found all allegations and dishonesty proved and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £3,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Not mislead third parties or opponents

Aggravating factors:

• Misuse of a vulnerable client's (a minor's) funds
• Misleading ledger entries to conceal wrongful withdrawals
• Retrospective creation of a file note to conceal his error and obstruct a client complaint
• Dismissed from partnership for gross misconduct

Mitigating factors:

• Self-reported the breaches to the SRA
• Admitted all three allegations and dishonesty
• Appreciated the seriousness of his wrongful acts and accepted their consequences
• Acted under considerable stress and felt isolated following firm merger