Darren Demetriou

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

Darren Demetriou, a former solicitor, caused £90,000 to be drawn from client account on 13 February 2004 and paid to a Mr R C Miller, debited to the ledger of a deceased client's estate, describing it as 'repayment of fees'. He claimed he was being blackmailed. The Tribunal found the allegation of breaching Rule 22 of the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 substantiated and expressly found he had acted dishonestly, in an act of conscious impropriety. As his name had already been removed from the Roll, the Tribunal ordered under s47(2)(g) that he be prohibited from restoration to the Roll except by Order of the Tribunal, and ordered him to pay costs subject to detailed assessment including the Investigation Accountant's costs.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial sum of £90,000 improperly withdrawn from client account
• Payment debited to ledger of a deceased client's estate
• Deliberate act of conscious impropriety
• Payment made to a person with whom the Respondent had a relationship

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent claimed he was being blackmailed and feared for his and his family's safety
• Ill health and immense stress at the material time, leading to hospitalisation and surgery
• Attempted to recover the funds to repay immediately
• Did not profit from the action
• Admitted the allegation
• No intention of applying for a Practising Certificate again