Martyn Rowland Neal

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

The Respondent, admitted in 1980, misappropriated client funds totalling £338,837.66 over several years while in partnership at Edwards Hands & Lewis, including by maintaining a fictitious client ledger account. He admitted the misappropriation and was convicted at Leicester Crown Court on his guilty plea of five counts of theft, receiving four years' imprisonment. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, found dishonesty, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £4,799.67.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Misappropriation totalling £338,837.66
• Offending over a lengthy period of years
• Maintained a fictitious ledger account to conceal misappropriation
• Impact on victims including estate beneficiaries and former partners
• Damage to public confidence in the profession
• Criminal conviction for five counts of theft / four years' imprisonment