Darren Demetriou

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

A Law Society inspection of Hunt and Hunt Solicitors found that on 13 February 2004 the Respondent caused £90,000 to be drawn from client account (debited to the ledger of a deceased client's estate) and paid to a Mr R C Miller, with whom he had a relationship, described falsely as 'repayment of fees'. The partners made good the shortfall. The Respondent admitted the allegation, claiming he had been blackmailed and was under ill health and stress, and had unsuccessfully tried to recover the funds; he did not profit. The Tribunal found the breach of the Solicitors Accounts Rules substantiated and found he acted dishonestly, his action being one of conscious impropriety. As his name had already been removed from the Roll, the Tribunal ordered he be prohibited from restoration except by Tribunal Order, plus costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial sum (£90,000) improperly withdrawn from client account
• Money taken from a deceased client's estate ledger
• Deliberate act of conscious impropriety
• Payment falsely described as 'repayment of fees'

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent claimed to have been blackmailed and in fear for his and his family's safety
• Ill health and immense stress at the material time (hospitalised March 2004, surgery May 2004)
• Attempted to recover the funds to repay immediately
• Did not profit from the action
• Admitted the allegation
• No intention of applying for a Practising Certificate again