Stephen Richard Outram

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

Sole practitioner Stephen Richard Outram was found to have submitted misleading practising certificate applications over three years (falsely certifying CPD compliance and a written complaints procedure), failed to provide clients with written costs information, and failed to meet training/supervision requirements. The Tribunal found all four allegations proved but made no express finding of dishonesty. It imposed a conditional order requiring remediation by 31 March 2010 failing which he would be suspended indefinitely, plus costs of £1,288.

Duties found breached:

• Complaints procedure and handling
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to attend any formal CPD since starting practice on own account in 1986
• Appeared to be ignoring his Regulator and key rules of the Profession
• Rules breached protect the public and maintain the reputation of the Profession

Mitigating factors:

• Personal circumstances: unable to leave his parents, which he cited as reason for not attending training
• Could not afford representation