Trevor Symonds

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

Trevor Symonds, a sole practitioner admitted in 1983, faced nine allegations all of which the Tribunal found substantiated at a hearing he did not attend. He continued to practise and hold himself out as a solicitor after his practising certificate was terminated on 12 December 2007, including giving sworn evidence in Lincoln County Court stating he was a practising solicitor. He failed to cooperate with investigating officers, failed to honour undertakings to Hargreaves Gilman and Royal Bank of Scotland, failed to supply insurer details, failed to file an Accountant's Report, and repeatedly failed to respond to the SRA. He had two prior Tribunal appearances (1992 conviction for an offence involving dishonesty; 1999 fine of £5,000). Given his disciplinary history and the seriousness of the matters (including misleading the court and failing to discharge undertakings), the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £24,900.42. No express finding of dishonesty was made in the current proceedings.

Duties found breached:

• Personal probity and fitness to practise
• Disclose material information to client
• No conflict between current clients
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Two previous Tribunal appearances with allegations substantiated (1992 and 1999)
• Misled the court by giving evidence under oath that he was a practising solicitor
• Failed to discharge professional undertakings
• Abdicated his responsibilities as a solicitor
• Repeatedly ignored and failed to cooperate with the SRA
• Chose not to take part in the disciplinary proceedings