Lesley Dee Layton

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

Lesley Dee Layton, a solicitor at Lance Mason Solicitors, was struck off following an agreed outcome dealt with on the papers. In the matter of client GH, she directed the copying of GH's signature onto two witness statements and traced over them in ballpoint pen to appear genuine, then falsely maintained to opposing solicitors (BLM) and the court that the signatures were genuine. This led to GH's claim being struck out. In the matter of client KF, she caused a claim form to be filed with an accident date she did not believe to be true and which falsely purported to have been signed by the client, to avoid the consequences of a missed limitation deadline. The Tribunal found the admitted allegations (breaches of Principles 1, 2 and 6 and Outcomes 5.1 and 11.1) proved beyond reasonable doubt, including an express finding of dishonesty. She was ordered to pay costs of £13,920 plus VAT.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty was proved and continued over a period of months
• Conduct occurred across two separate client matters (GH and KF)
• Respondent was an experienced solicitor who regularly undertook litigation
• Actions sought to avoid the consequences of her own default
• Clients exposed to harm (GH's claim struck out) and firm left vulnerable to civil action

Mitigating factors:

• Made open and frank admissions and cooperated with the investigating body
• Previously unblemished career history with no previous complaints
• Expressed embarrassment and stated she had always sought to uphold the rule of law