David Burke

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

Duties found breached:

• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Lack of co-operation with the Law Society, necessitating intervention into the practice
• Continued to practise after termination of Practising Certificate (until at least 11 January 1995)
• Six claims made on the Compensation Fund (£1,158.87 paid out, pending claims £132.00)
• Almost complete neglect of regulatory duties

Mitigating factors:

• Regulatory breaches not deliberate or intentional
• Respondent suffering ill-health/depression and anxiety; psychiatric evidence provided
• Series of family bereavements and a family member's heart attack
• Was the victim of a violent robbery in which accounting records were stolen
• Admitted the allegations and did not contest them; apologised
• Agreed to meet the applicant's costs including those of the earlier hearing
• Office never actually opened to the public due to building works