Andrea Patricia Jeanette Fraser

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

Andrea Fraser, a litigation executive/solicitor's clerk at Moss & Coleman, misappropriated funds by charging 23 cheques and telegraphic transfers totalling £24,265.84 to four unconnected client accounts, leaving a minimum shortage of £23,508 used for her own purposes, plus unsubstantiated travel expense claims. She admitted theft, was summarily dismissed, and was criminally convicted and given a custodial sentence. The firm rectified the shortage. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a section 43 order restricting her future employment in the solicitors' profession, ordering her to pay costs of £1,102.15.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial sum misappropriated (£23,508 minimum shortage)
• Conduct over an extended period (March 1994 to April 1996)
• Criminal conviction with custodial sentence imposed
• Only partial repayment of £3,000 made and no proposal for further repayment

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent admitted the theft and cooperated through correspondence
• Receiving treatment for poor mental health at the time of the hearing