Richard Ashford

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

Richard Ashford, an unadmitted conveyancing clerk (Associate Director) at Fox Hayes LLP, conducted purchases for buyers of properties associated with the MP organisation and for AW. He failed to disclose to lender clients, contrary to the CML Handbook, gifted deposits/discounts and price variations that bore the hallmarks of mortgage fraud. He did not engage with proceedings and did not attend. The Tribunal, satisfied of proper service, proceeded in his absence, found the SRA had made out its case, and made a Section 43(2) order. No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was ordered to pay costs of £11,983.14.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Handle inadvertently received material

Aggravating factors:

• Failed to engage with the proceedings and did not attend the substantive hearing
• Conduct bore the hallmarks of mortgage fraud which could easily have been identified at an earlier stage