John William Burrows

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

John William Burrows, admitted 1986, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of two offences of making a false instrument and five offences of procuring execution of valuable securities by deception, and sentenced to four years six months imprisonment. He had forged a client's will and substituted it for the genuine will, submitting the forged will for probate, and had cashed five firm cheques with an accomplice. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, expressly noting his serious offences of dishonesty committed in a solicitors' practice. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £2,937.50.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience

Aggravating factors:

• Victims were vulnerable and trusting and chosen with care
• Conduct seriously damaged public confidence in the profession
• Offences at the highest end of misconduct
• Custodial sentence of four years six months imposed