Andreas Erothodos Alexandrou

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

Sole practitioner solicitor found to have committed wide-ranging Accounts Rules breaches (no cash book, no reconciliations, client account shortfalls of over £71,000, failure to file accountants' reports, and failure to pay a client's SDLT for over 6 months). Separately, in county court possession proceedings against himself and his wife, he repeatedly lied to the judge over two days about why his wife was absent, when in fact he had never told her about the hearing. The Tribunal made express findings of dishonesty on all four Rule 7 allegations applying the Twinsectra test. Finding no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £21,500 (summarily assessed and reduced from £25,044.88), immediately enforceable despite his bankruptcy.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Manage conflict arising mid-matter
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Firm governance, systems and compliance

Aggravating factors:

• Repeated dishonesty to a judge on four occasions over two days
• Deliberate misleading of the court by an officer of the court
• Premeditated conduct; given multiple opportunities by the judge to correct false statements but did not
• Accounts breaches spanning about three years; failed to produce accounts for years
• Flouted conditions on his Practising Certificate requiring half-yearly accountants' reports
• Lack of insight (blamed judge for asking the wrong question)
• Continued to practise until intervention despite having 'given up' on accounts

Mitigating factors:

• Previous good character with no prior disciplinary matters
• Relatively prompt admissions to most allegations
• Serious personal and family difficulties during the relevant period
• Undiagnosed medical condition (though no medical evidence provided)
• Made up the SDLT shortfall from his own funds
• Apologised to the judge, his wife and counsel
• No client complaints about standard of his work