Trevor Routledge

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

Trevor Routledge, a non-solicitor employed as a conveyancing manager at Hannay & Hannay (1990-1995), misappropriated clients' funds totalling £2,490 by overcharging Land Registry fees and retaining refund cheques/cash, and used overcharged funds for his own remortgage. The Tribunal found he had abused his position of trust and stolen clients' monies, pursuing a dishonest course of conduct. It made a Section 43 order restricting his employment in the solicitors' profession and ordered him to pay costs of £410.71. The respondent did not appear and was not represented but had admitted the financial irregularities.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Abuse of position of trust
• Theft of clients' monies
• Affected 90 separate clients

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the financial irregularities
• Full restitution made by the partners