David McCarey Lancaster

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

The Respondent, a solicitor and partner in a Portsmouth firm, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court of attempting to incite another to pervert the course of justice and sentenced to 3 years imprisonment, following a BBC undercover investigation in which he furnished a person he believed to be a client with explanations to resist evidence. He admitted the allegation in writing and did not attend. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, noted he abdicated his responsibilities for probity, integrity and trustworthiness as an officer of the court, and ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay fixed costs of £583. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Conviction on indictment for attempting to pervert the course of justice
• Sentenced to 3 years imprisonment
• Conduct seriously damaged the reputation of the profession
• Abdicated responsibilities as an officer of the court

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegation and expressed remorse
• Already punished by the criminal court and imprisonment
• Accepted he would not practise again
• Personal financial and pension difficulties