Peter Malcolm Chapman

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

Peter Malcolm Chapman, an assistant solicitor admitted in 1969, was found to have dishonestly misappropriated clients' funds while employed by Denham Foxon and Watchorn, causing a minimum cash shortage on client account of £33,200 and procuring numerous false accounting entries to conceal his misuse. The respondent admitted the facts and did not appear. Having previously been suspended in 1988 for dishonesty and deception, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay costs of £3,069.04.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Honour professional undertakings
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Previous 1988 disciplinary finding of dishonesty and deception for which he was suspended for one year
• False accounting entries made to conceal earlier misuse of clients' funds
• No restitution made by respondent (former partners replaced the monies)
• Use of clients' funds to satisfy personal debts