Robert Alan Cutty

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1974, was convicted on his own admission of four counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception and five counts of fraud by abuse of position, and sentenced to two years imprisonment. The frauds spanned about seven years and involved misappropriation of around £300,000 from client account, with personal benefit of approximately £140,000. The Tribunal found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt (breaches of Principles 1, 2 and 6), based on convictions involving dishonesty. Finding no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £23,000. The Rule 5 Statement was withdrawn and the case proceeded on the Rule 7 Statement based on the convictions.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Offences committed over a period of about seven years
• Multiple frauds involving misuse of approximately £300,000 with personal benefit of about £140,000
• Breach of position of trust as a solicitor
• Caused loss and damaged reputation of firm and profession

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings
• Facilitated proper disposal of case by consenting to proceed and consenting to striking off
• Admitted the allegations
• Had not practised since November 2009 and never intended to practise again