Richard Heslop

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

Richard Heslop, an assistant solicitor doing conveyancing, was found to have dishonestly signed a TR1 form purporting to witness Ms O's signature when he had not, and repeatedly misled clients S and G into believing litigation had been commenced and won (£35,000 and £30,000 awarded) when no proceedings existed. He also improperly obtained money for disbursements by cancelling client bills and transferred funds between client accounts without consent. The Tribunal found express dishonesty under the Twinsectra test in respect of allegations 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. Finding no exceptional circumstances per SRA v Sharma, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £12,667.96.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Three separate serious acts of dishonesty
• Dishonesty sustained over more than 12 months, not a single moment
• Repeatedly misled clients S and G that litigation had succeeded
• Adverse effects on clients and on Ms O, a member of the public
• Falsely witnessed signature on a TR1 with knowledge it was wrong

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary record
• Admitted all allegations including dishonesty
• No direct financial gain
• Young solicitor at start of career (30, qualified four years)
• Asserted period of disordered thinking/breakdown (no medical evidence produced)