Gabriel Ezeh Gabman

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

The Respondent, admitted in 2004 and practising as Gabman Solicitors, was convicted at Croydon Crown Court on 21 November 2008 of two counts of assisting unlawful immigration into EU member states and one count of possession of false identity documents with intent, and sentenced to four years' imprisonment (concurrent). The SRA brought an allegation that the conviction and imprisonment breached Rules 1.01, 1.02 and 1.06 of the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007. The Respondent did not attend; his application for an adjournment (on grounds of maintained innocence/intended appeal and ill health in custody) was refused for lack of supporting evidence. The Tribunal found the allegation proved and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £1,106.62.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Conviction for serious criminal offences involving assisting unlawful immigration and possession of false identity documents
• Sentenced to four years' imprisonment
• Sentencing judge described him as a 'dishonest crook, swindler and cheat' who preyed upon vulnerable people