Alan Lewis Benstock

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1982, pleaded guilty to nine counts of theft at Leeds Crown Court relating to his conduct of the LCC Trust, from which he stole credit balances totalling over £43,000 belonging to deceased clients' estates. He was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment. The SRA proceeded only on the conviction allegation (iii), with allegations (i) and (ii) left on file. The Respondent did not appear. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, holding that he failed to meet the required standards of probity, integrity and trustworthiness, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £19,040.03. Though the underlying conduct was theft, the Tribunal's findings referenced probity and integrity rather than making an express finding of dishonesty.

Aggravating factors:

• Course of offending carried out over four and a half months
• Target of offending was estates of deceased clients who trusted him
• Uncooperative with SRA investigation and disciplinary proceedings

Mitigating factors:

• Had injected capital into the firm
• Not motivated by greed
• No planning involved (per sentencing judge)