Wendy Hirst

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

Wendy Hirst, a non-solicitor clerk employed by Rafiq & Co, had her employment terminated in October 1993. A client complained the firm failed to account for £6,000 he had given her (£2,000 in cash with a signed receipt, plus a further £4,000); the funds never reached client account. The principal replaced the missing funds, so the client suffered no loss; the matter was not reported to police. The respondent did not appear and made no submissions. The Tribunal found both allegations (using clients' funds for her own purposes and misappropriation) substantiated and made a section 43 order controlling her future employment in the profession, plus fixed costs of £955.10. No express finding of dishonesty was recorded.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money