Terance David Walton Liggins

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

Liggins, a solicitor admitted in 1968, was convicted at Worcester Crown Court on 24 April 1998 of three counts of theft and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment; his appeal was rejected. While acting as a solicitor he stole £200,000 from a client. The applicant proceeded only on the supplementary allegation of conviction for a dishonesty offence in the course of practice, with the original five allegations (Accounts Rules breaches, misappropriation, conflict of interest, client loans) left to lie on file. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated, adopting the sentencing judge's remarks, and struck him off the Roll. He was ordered to pay fixed costs of £3,500 plus the taxed costs of the Law Society's Investigation Accountant.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage

Mitigating factors:

• Money used in a vain attempt to prop up a company of whose debts he was guarantor; he never saw the benefit
• Under immense financial pressure at the time
• Thefts took place over a very short period
• Intention to repay the sums once company restructuring took place
• Already severely punished and would never act as a solicitor again