Sharon Pallagi

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

The Respondent, a Court of Protection Panel Deputy for vulnerable clients, made numerous unauthorised withdrawals from client account over nearly three years (totalling sums repaid of £32,561.12, including £522.76 for Mr N, £12,325 for Miss R, and £980/£1,000/£114 for Miss C and Miss C), falsely recording reasons for withdrawals and altering two receipts from HH (£1,000 to £1,200 and £1,000 to £1,600). She also failed to deliver a Vax cleaner promptly to client Mr N. She admitted all allegations including dishonesty. The Tribunal expressly found her conduct dishonest by the standards of reasonable honest people and that she knew it was dishonest. Despite medical/depression mitigation argued as "exceptional circumstances" and a "cry for help", the Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances given the repeated dishonesty over a lengthy period and that she mixed/spent client funds. Struck off and ordered to pay agreed costs of £8,209.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty repeated on numerous occasions over nearly three years (15 instances)
• Deliberate conduct - she gave the accounts department a week's notice of withdrawals
• Took advantage of vulnerable clients via her Court of Protection Deputy appointment
• Attempted to conceal conduct by falsely recording reasons for withdrawals and altering receipts
• Caused harm to the public and the reputation of the profession
• Mixed client funds with personal funds and spent them

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished long record
• Early admissions and cooperation with the regulator
• Genuine insight and remorse
• Repaid all funds taken
• Supportive character references
• Under pressure and suffering medical/health issues at the time