Robert Ian Corteen

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

The respondent, admitted in 1985, was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of ten counts of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception in a mortgage fraud and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. He acted for fictitious vendors and purchasers and became aware of the fraud but acquiesced in it. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, characterising the offences as involving dishonesty, and ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £980.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience

Aggravating factors:

• Convicted of serious criminal offences involving dishonesty
• Damage to the good name of the solicitors' profession
• Became aware of the fraud yet acquiesced and went along with the fraudulent client

Mitigating factors:

• Jury found he was not a dishonest man recruited to assist co-defendants
• Profited in no way from the matter
• Error was one of dishonest misjudgement in helping to maintain a client in business