David Beard

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

David Beard, a barrister called in 1990, faced a five-person Disciplinary Tribunal on 22 July 2013 on multiple charges: two drink-driving related convictions (driving with excess alcohol and being in charge of a vehicle with excess alcohol), failure to surrender to custody (Bail Act), failure to pay his practising certificate fee instalment, failure to pay BMIF insurance premiums (aggravated by a prior 2006 breach), and failure to pay a £300 financial penalty previously imposed. The criminal courts had ordered disqualifications, unpaid work, and prosecution costs of £650 and £300. The Tribunal found the charges proven and disbarred him. No express finding of dishonesty was made by the Tribunal.

Duties found breached:

• No standing bail or surety for client
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Previous failure to comply with the Code (402.2(a)) in 2006
• Multiple failures including non-payment of an earlier imposed financial penalty