Roger Riley

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

Roger Riley, a litigation clerk of over ten years standing running his employer firm's Crown Court department at Messrs T.J. Clough & Co., misappropriated approximately £40,000 through 'teeming and lading', deceiving clients into believing their matters were settled and disguising payments in the firm's accounts as payments to experts, Counsel or witnesses. Some £2,000 was spent on his own holidays and about £5,000 was repaid. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, describing his conduct as dishonest, and made an order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 controlling his future employment in the profession, plus fixed costs of £746.12. The respondent did not attend or make representations.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Long-standing (over ten years) and trusted member of staff running the Crown Court department
• Approximately £40,000 involved
• £2,000 spent on the respondent's own holidays

Mitigating factors:

• System operated was largely not for his own benefit (money mostly paid to clients)
• Repaid about £5,000