Nicola Campbell

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

The respondent, a solicitor and former partner at Windeatts, was convicted on 16 April 2012 at Plymouth Crown Court of three counts of fraud by abuse of position, having altered three cheques to divert over £16,500 of client mortgage funds into her husband's bank account. She was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months and 200 hours of unpaid work. The Tribunal found the conviction breached SRA Principles 1, 2 and 6, that dishonesty was alleged and proved, and that no exceptional circumstances existed. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £1,624.14, not enforceable without leave of the Tribunal given her financial circumstances.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Serve justice and improve the law

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty alleged and proved
• Misconduct involved commission of a criminal offence
• Conduct was planned and repeated over three occasions
• Breach of a position of trust
• Caused harm to clients and the firm
• Respondent knew conduct was in material breach of obligations to protect the public and the profession's reputation

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters
• Open and frank admissions
• Cooperated with the Applicant
• Pleaded guilty at trial
• Showed insight into her actions
• Difficult personal circumstances (caring for seriously ill husband, mother's terminal illness, own ill health and depression)