Mark Charles Sutton-Bowyer

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

Sole practitioner conveyancer found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor for multiple breaches of the Solicitors' Accounts Rules, including a client account shortage of £3,612.33 arising from improper transfers, using clients' funds for other clients and his own purposes, and improperly administering oaths in matters where his firm acted. The Law Society had intervened in his practice. He did not appear. No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was suspended indefinitely and ordered to pay costs of £2,916.16.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Cash shortage on client account of £3,612.33, including improper transfers of £3,302.25 across 155 disbursements with no evidence of payment
• Failure to grasp responsibilities as a practising solicitor

Mitigating factors:

• Partial rectification of the shortfall from office and personal funds
• Refunded commissioner's fees and apologised regarding the oath matter