Peter John Blacklock

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

Sole practitioner admitted all allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor, including dishonesty. An SRA inspection found a minimum client account cash shortage of £149,862.03 as at 6 February 2008, arising from overpayments, over-transfers to office account, and payments made to or for the Respondent's personal benefit (school fees, car repairs, VAT liability, mortgage arrears, overdraft reduction). No client account reconciliations had been carried out since 31 March 2007, and he failed to honour an undertaking to the Bank of Scotland on a property sale. The Tribunal found a systematic theft of client money over two years and that he had acted dishonestly, describing it as one of the worst cases before it. He was struck off and ordered to pay costs of £5,621.10. The Tribunal also directed that the accountancy institute be informed as he was a chartered accountant.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Systematic theft of client money over a two-year period
• Use of client funds for personal liabilities (school fees, car repairs, VAT, mortgage arrears, overdraft)
• Actively misled clients to perpetuate the situation
• Described by the Tribunal as one of the worst cases that had come before it

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted all allegations and did not contest them
• Cooperated fully with the SRA investigation
• Character reference from previous employer
• Difficulties traced to a failed business venture and bank withdrawal of support
• Carried out worthy professional work including unpaid work at a county court surgery
• Reported a suspected mortgage fraud to the mortgage company despite being offered large fees
• Stated no intention to permanently deprive clients