Adrian Andrew Parker

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

Adrian Andrew Parker, a salaried partner at D S Bosher & Co, was found to have breached the Solicitors Accounts Rules by making unallocated round-sum transfers from client to office account and then to his personal account to pay his ~£90,000 salary and expenses, without delivering bills to clients. A client account shortage of £305,057.17 was identified. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved under the Twinsectra test: while his earliest breaches were intentional but not dishonest, his later practice of drawing round sums from client account without proper bills, while working less than full time, was dishonest by ordinary standards and he knew it. With no exceptional circumstances (per SRA v Sharma), he was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £26,415.15, not enforceable without leave of the Tribunal given his limited means.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Diligence and timeliness
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct
• Conduct repeated over a long period of time
• Caused clients to suffer financial losses
• Deliberate conduct - knew it was wrong yet continued
• Material breach of obligations to protect the public and profession's reputation
• Direct personal benefit from the transfers
• Exploited exclusive control of internet banking and cheque book when cashier absent

Mitigating factors:

• Previous unblemished long career as a solicitor
• Admissions made to most allegations
• Ill-health following serious car accident in 2010 and personal difficulties
• Did not intend to practise again; resigned as Deputy District Judge