Julian Anthony Norton Heron

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

The respondent, admitted 1990, used £10,600 of clients' money held for stamp duty in a 2002 conveyancing transaction to pay stamp duty on his own jointly-owned property. The shortfall was rectified in April 2004 from funds received for his partner. The bookkeeping records falsely showed the money as having been paid out for the clients' stamp duty, which the Tribunal found was a deliberate attempt to conceal his actions. He also approached the clients in November 2004 to sign an authority permitting his use of the funds, urging them not to seek independent advice; they refused. He failed to respond to the Law Society. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated, found express dishonesty on allegation (c), and struck him off. He did not appear. He had a prior 2003 suspension of 2.5 years for overcharging and reckless conveyancing conduct (dishonesty not then proved).

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate taking of clients' money for his own purposes with conscious impropriety
• Deliberate concealment via false bookkeeping records
• Approaching clients to sign an authority and urging them not to seek independent legal advice
• Failure to respond to or cooperate with The Law Society
• Previous disciplinary finding (2.5 year suspension in 2003)