Alan Vincent Farnell

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

Solicitor Alan Vincent Farnell, admitted 1974, practised at Twigg Farnell. An SRA forensic investigation found he had taken "loans" from clients' estates and funds (including £20,000 from deceased client Dr T's estate without consent), taken client loans without ensuring independent legal advice, misused personal injury clients' disbursement loan funds to pay referral fees, made improper interim-bill transfers from client to office account, and made deductions from miner clients' damages despite receiving fixed costs under the DTI Claims Handling Agreements. The Tribunal made an express finding of dishonesty (applying Twinsectra test) in respect of the money taken from Dr T. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs subject to detailed assessment, with regard to his means.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Systematic abuse of trust placed in him by clients
• Misuse of money entrusted to him
• Resorting to client account to meet office expenditure
• Express finding of dishonest conduct regarding funds taken from Dr T
• Made preferential payments against IVA terms without supervisor's consent