Julian Michael Edward Mullins

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

The Respondent, an associate solicitor in the Private Client Department of Turbervilles, withdrew/transferred client monies totalling £139,500 for his own use and manipulated Estate Accounts to cover false legacies. He was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on 3 January 2013 of Fraud by abuse of position (s.1 Fraud Act 2006) and sentenced on 13 March 2013 to 3 years imprisonment. The Tribunal found the allegation proved and expressly found his conduct dishonest under the Twinsectra test. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £5,000, not to be enforced without leave.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Very serious breach of trust as a professional
• Multiple victims including the firm and families of six estates defrauded
• Created false documents on files to cover his tracks
• Involved three close friends in the fraud, leading to money laundering proceedings and two convictions

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted culpability in court and throughout the proceedings
• Did not dispute the facts in the Rule 7 Statement
• Stated he would seek to repay the monies taken