Kalvinder Garcha

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

Ms Garcha, a solicitor employed as Head of Corporate Services at Oadby & Wigston Borough Council and chair of trustees of the charity Coping with Cancer, was convicted at Leicester Crown Court of two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud and two counts of conspiracy to convert criminal property, and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. She conspired to create a fake employee to defraud the Council of £37,606.67 and the Charity of £3,675. She admitted the allegations and breaches (save dishonesty) on the basis of her convictions while pursuing an appeal. The Tribunal relied on the convictions as conclusive proof and found dishonesty proved. Proceeding in her absence, and refusing anonymisation, the Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and struck her off the Roll. Costs assessed at £5,445 but no order for costs made given her impecuniosity (state benefits, no property equity).

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Commission of a criminal offence
• Offending was deliberate, calculated and repeated
• Offending continued over a period of time
• Abuse of position of trust
• Knew she was in material breach of obligations
• Motivation was financial gain
• Harm to vulnerable users of Council and Charity services

Mitigating factors:

• Self-reported to the SRA
• Co-operated with the SRA