Michael John Potter

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

Michael John Potter, a solicitor admitted in 1991, was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of blackmail (an unwarranted demand with menaces contrary to s.21(1) Theft Act 1968) committed on 29 July 2020 in his role as director of 350 PPM Ltd. He was sentenced to 1 year's imprisonment suspended for 2 years plus 240 hours unpaid work. He admitted breaching Principles 2 and 5. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers via an Agreed Outcome, found the misconduct extremely serious and ordered him struck off the Roll, plus costs of £4,158. No express finding of dishonesty was recorded.

Duties found breached:

• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Criminal conviction for blackmail
• Misconduct extremely serious; need to protect reputation of the legal profession

Mitigating factors:

• Insight shown by the Respondent
• Non-agreed mitigation