Stephen John Roberts

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

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Comply with and respect court orders
• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in 2001 for similar conduct (failure to comply with an Adjudicator's direction), for which he was fined £1,000
• Failure to progress client matters causing anxiety to clients and inconvenience to The Law Society
• Failure to comply with two Adjudicators' awards

Mitigating factors:

• No dishonesty alleged or found
• Books of account found fully compliant with the Solicitors Accounts Rules
• Significant mental health difficulties (clinical depression and a phobia) accepted as the crucial factor in his failures
• Practice had already been subject to intervention and he was not currently practising
• Allegations admitted/not contested
• Expressed intention never to practise again and willingness to be removed from the Roll