Peter James Sleep

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

Sole practitioner admitted accounts breaches (failure to write up accounts, do reconciliations, and improper withdrawals from client account). The Tribunal found allegation (iv) - utilising clients' funds for own benefit - substantiated only as reckless conduct, expressly rejecting the dishonesty allegation under the Twinsectra test as not proven to the required high standard. Allegation (v) was also substantiated. Given health and financial difficulties and that no client suffered loss, the Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension and ordered the Respondent to pay costs including the Investigation Officer's costs, subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Practice operating at or around overdraft limit; financial and cashflow difficulties
• Previously put on notice of similar issues at earlier monitoring visits in 2003 and 2004
• Failed to lodge VAT returns since December 2001 despite recovering VAT from clients
• Minimum cash shortage of £1,468.75 identified

Mitigating factors:

• No client suffered any loss; shortage corrected
• Full cooperation with the Investigation Officer and SRA
• Serious personal circumstances: family bereavement, secretary's maternity leave, staffing difficulties
• Health difficulties supported by medical evidence
• Financial difficulties/bankruptcy and stated desperation rather than greed
• Transparent paper records readily available - no attempt to disguise transactions
• Did not wish to practise again

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["review_dishonesty_finding_cue_present"]