Scott Michael Canavan

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

Scott Michael Canavan, a solicitor's clerk, had prior convictions for burglary and theft before being employed by solicitor Howard Ogden (Feb-June 1994). During his employment he attended police interviews of high-profile client Frederick West and kept a notebook of his notes, which he later sought to sell to newspapers in breach of his duties of confidentiality. The Tribunal found both allegations substantiated and made a Section 43 order controlling his future employment by solicitors, with serious doubts as to whether he should ever be so employed. He was ordered to pay costs of £1,185.63.

Duties found breached:

• No acting against a former client

Aggravating factors:

• Prior criminal convictions for burglary and theft
• Attempted to profit from confidential client information in a high-profile murder case
• High Court order required to prevent disclosures to newspapers
• Did not respond to letters seeking explanation