Bernadette Paula Heywood

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

The Respondent, a non-solicitor paralegal in the conveyancing department of Millichips Solicitors, issued handwritten receipts to clients for cash payments but failed to pass the cash (totalling £5,700.42 across 17 clients) to the firm's accounts department. The matter came to light when the accounts department chased clients for outstanding invoices and clients produced the Respondent's receipts. She agreed to reimburse the firm and to a second charge over her home as security. She did not contest the allegations and did not appear. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a Section 43 order, with costs to be assessed. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money

Mitigating factors:

• Did not contest the allegations and apologised
• Personal difficulties including a bad relationship, financial problems and family issues
• Agreed to reimburse her former employers
• Agreed to a second charge over her home as security
• Accepted the appropriateness of the order sought