David Shorrocks

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

The Respondent, admitted in 1983 and former sole principal of Shorrocks & Co, failed to deliver Accountant's Reports for two six-month periods (breach of s.34 Solicitors Act 1974) and, after vacating his offices, left around 1,200 closed client files, 38 sets of deeds and computers unsecured, failing to act in clients' best interests, diminishing public trust, breaching client confidentiality, and failing to securely store archived files. Some £91,000 of client money's whereabouts was unknown. He had two prior Tribunal matters (1995 and 2007) and remained indefinitely suspended for breaching the 2007 Order. The Tribunal noted there was no allegation of dishonesty but found the matters very serious and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £2,881.87. The Respondent did not appear and submitted no mitigation.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Aggravating factors:

• Pattern of serious breaches
• Previous disciplinary matters in 1995 and 2007
• Breach of the Tribunal's previous Order of 2007, leaving him indefinitely suspended
• Conduct exposed the public to significant risk
• Had multiple opportunities to put matters right but chose not to
• Failed to cooperate with the SRA and Receivers
• Left approx. 1,200 closed client files, 38 sets of deeds and computers unsecured