Celeste Daniela Scotece

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

The Respondent, admitted in 2002 and formerly an assistant solicitor, was arrested in August 2006 when cannabis was found concealed on her while attending a client at a Magistrates Court cell block. She pleaded guilty on 15 March 2007 to possession with intent to supply cannabis and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment; the judge found she had manipulated the court process to arrange for an imprisoned client to be brought to court so she could supply him cannabis. She also gave The Law Society an untrue explanation, claiming the cannabis was for personal use and denying intent to supply. The Tribunal found both allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor proved (admitted), and ordered her struck off the Roll plus costs of £1,092.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Personal probity and fitness to practise

Aggravating factors:

• Offence committed in the course of her practice as a solicitor
• Intention to supply cannabis to a client in prison
• Gross breach of trust that brought the profession into disrepute
• Gave an untrue explanation to The Law Society