Roger Riley

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

Roger Riley, an experienced and trusted litigation clerk running the Crown Court department of T.J. Clough & Co. solicitors, misappropriated approximately £40,000 through a 'teeming and lading' scheme, using office account monies held in other Crown Court cases to pay clients while disguising the payments as expert/Counsel/witness fees; £2,000 was spent on his own holidays and about £5,000 was repaid. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, described his conduct as dishonest, and made a Section 43 order controlling his future employment in the profession, with fixed costs of £746.12.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Long-standing (over ten years) and trusted member of staff
• Held position of responsibility running the firm's Crown Court department
• Large sum involved (approximately £40,000)
• £2,000 used for his own personal benefit (holidays)

Mitigating factors:

• Repaid about £5,000
• Most of the misappropriated money was used to pay clients rather than for his own benefit