Charles Daniel Gibson
Allegation / charges
Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Charles Daniel Gibson, admitted 1972, committed three misappropriations of client/trust funds while a partner at Belmont & Lowe: a £3,000 cheque (Jan 1991) and £2,500 cheque (April 1991) used for his son's school fees, and a £5,250 loan stock redemption warrant (1990) paid into his personal building society account. He admitted the facts and allegations, citing stress from his ill father and a near nervous breakdown. He repaid all sums, voluntarily reported himself to the Bureau, and had strong support from family, clients and his employers (EKB). The Tribunal expressly found his actions dishonest, constituting a repeated course of conduct rather than a temporary aberration, and rejected that he suffered a psychiatric illness at the material time. Despite mitigation, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay costs of £1,060 inclusive of VAT, with filing of the order suspended for 14 days.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Three separate misappropriations constituting a repeated course of conduct, not an isolated incident or temporary aberration
- A purported signature of co-trustee Dr L appeared on the warrant paid into his personal account
- He could have obtained funds from elsewhere and did not need to misappropriate
- Did not inform his partners after discovering the shortfall in 1993
- Incalculable damage to the reputation of and public trust in the profession
Mitigating factors:
- Previously unblemished career, well regarded in the profession
- Under considerable personal stress due to seriously ill father and a near nervous breakdown
- Actions were totally out of character per psychiatric evidence
- Made full restitution of all misappropriated sums plus interest
- Voluntarily reported himself to the Bureau and sought guidance
- Strong support and testimonials from clients, family and present employers