Christopher Robert Hamilton

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

Christopher Robert Hamilton, a solicitor's clerk (not a solicitor) employed by Bennett Oakley & Partners between 1983 and 1994 dealing with probate matters, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court on 5 May 1995 of four counts of theft. He and his wife (who impersonated a deceased beneficiary) diverted at least £118,000 from an estate into a fictitious account. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment. The Tribunal made a Section 43(2) order prohibiting his employment by a solicitor without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay costs of £710 despite his bankruptcy. The respondent did not contest the proceedings and did not appear.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty

Aggravating factors:

• Breach of trust reposed in him by the firm in dealing with estates
• Theft of a minimum of £118,000 from an estate
• Involved his wife impersonating the deceased beneficiary