David Skipp

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

David Skipp, a solicitor's clerk employed as a cashier at Messrs. Hunt & Wrigley, stole approximately £79,000 from his employers and their clients over about four years, including negotiating 24 client account cheques (18 bearing a forged partner's signature) via a teeming and lading scheme. He was convicted of theft and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made an Order under Section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 restricting his employment in the profession, and ordered him to pay costs of £3,741.21. He did not appear.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Theft of substantial sum (£79,000) over approximately four years
• Sophisticated 'teeming and lading' system to conceal thefts
• Forgery of around 44 partner signatures and invention of false invoices
• Employers had treated him well and been helpful, loaning him money

Mitigating factors:

• Admissions and co-operation with the police
• Expressed deep regret in letter from prison
• Gambling addiction