Angela Jane Butler

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

The Respondent, a solicitor at Geldards LLP, authorised 63 improper client account payments totalling £44,633.84, using client cheques drawn from conveyancing matters with small residual balances to pay credit/charge card accounts held by her and/or her daughter. She was convicted of Theft upon her own confession at Derby Crown Court on 30 March 2010 and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment, having benefited by £43,655.53. The Tribunal found proved the breach of Rule 1.06. The SRA did not specifically allege dishonesty (treating it as an essential element of theft), and the Tribunal made no express finding of dishonesty. The Respondent did not engage in proceedings. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £6,000.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Theft committed systematically over approximately two years
• Breach of trust of her employer
• Premeditated, long-term theft
• Attracted publicity in an online national newspaper

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity
• Returned to the country from abroad
• Suffering from MS (though no medical report provided)