David Kingsley Wedge

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

David Kingsley Wedge, a sole practitioner solicitor, faced four allegations arising from his conduct at Kingsley Rose Solicitors. The Tribunal, proceeding in his absence, found all allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt. He accepted a £110,000 personal loan from a client (AMD) while conflicted and without advising independent legal advice; failed to provide proper service and provided misleading information to clients KK and RL regarding their professional negligence and child contact matters respectively (including falsely claiming counsel had been instructed, that court proceedings had been issued/resubmitted, and that letters had been sent); and failed to cooperate with SRA investigations. The Tribunal made express findings of dishonesty in relation to allegations 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4, finding he repeatedly lied to clients and the regulator. The Tribunal found no mitigating features and, given the dishonesty, ordered that he be struck off the Roll of Solicitors and pay costs of £15,972.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No conflict between current clients
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Proven and admitted dishonesty
• Deliberately and repeatedly misled clients and the SRA
• Misconduct continued over a period of time
• Attempted to conceal wrongdoing by misleading clients and failing to return files
• Complete lack of insight
• Put forward implausible explanations contrary to contemporaneous documents
• Abused fiduciary position and took advantage of vulnerable clients
• Caused significant financial, emotional and health harm to clients

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent expressed apology for distress caused
• Cited stressful period including marriage breakdown and health issues