Respondent AD

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

Respondent AD, a partner/owner-manager and COLP/COFA admitted to the Roll in 1976, admitted misappropriating £200,000 from two estates (OH and RH), causing a client account shortage which was replaced 549 and 463 days later respectively. He falsified cheque documentation to route estate funds through his personal Nationwide and Lloyds accounts into the Firm's overdrawn office account. He also overcharged six estates by a total of £198,357.54. He admitted all allegations, including dishonesty. Via an Agreed Outcome, the Tribunal found the only appropriate sanction, given admitted dishonesty and absence of exceptional circumstances, was striking off. Ordered struck off and to pay £1,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Misappropriation of £200,000 in client/estate monies
• Falsified account records and payment documentation to conceal payments to himself
• Provided false information to colleague who signed cheques
• Overcharging of £198,357.54 across six estates
• Misconduct over an extended period
• Benefitted himself to detriment of beneficiaries
• Victims included deceased and vulnerable beneficiaries
• Abuse of trust as sole executor, COLP and COFA

Mitigating factors:

• Admissions made
• Ill-health raised (though Respondent ultimately did not put forward health mitigation)