Frederick Dennis Wood

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

Sole practitioner solicitor, aged 63, failed to maintain accounting records, made 14 cash withdrawals from client account totalling £4,871.41 for his own benefit, and transferred costs from client account without delivering bills. Having previously been fined in 1992 for similar breaches, the Tribunal found the allegations substantiated (uncontested) and, despite no client loss, no dishonesty, cooperation and ill health, ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £3,772.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Previous appearance before Tribunal in 1992 for similar Accounts Rules breaches and fined £1,500
• Failure to learn from earlier warning
• Complete failure to fulfil professional obligations regarding accounts

Mitigating factors:

• Full co-operation with investigation and intervention
• Reimbursement of client account (£4,871.41)
• No loss to clients
• Ill health (heart failure and severe depression)
• No suggestion of fraud or dishonesty over long career