Michael John Potter

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

The Respondent, admitted 1991 but not practising as a solicitor since 1994, was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court of blackmail contrary to s.21(1) of the Theft Act 1968 for making an unwarranted demand with menaces during a July 2020 board meeting of 350 PPM Ltd, threatening to report the company/co-director to the FCA unless financial demands were met. He was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment suspended for 2 years and 240 hours unpaid work. He admitted breaching Principles 2 and 5. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers by agreed outcome, found the misconduct extremely serious and ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £4,158.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct involved commission of a criminal offence
• Misconduct was deliberate and planned in advance
• Motivated by his own (and Mr Price's) financial self-gain
• Blackmail conviction by its very nature undermines public trust in solicitors

Mitigating factors:

• Single episode with no history of regulatory concern against previously unblemished career
• Demonstrated genuine insight and acknowledged crossing the line
• Co-operated with SRA investigation and updated at key stages