Stephen Anthony John-Cyrus

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

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Supervise staff and delegated work

Aggravating factors:

• Breach of the Solicitors Accounts Rules is always serious
• Client account shortage of £181,074.44 (one shortage of £86,175 and another of £79,399.01 persisting over four and a half months)

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations from the outset
• Contrite and ashamed
• No personal gain by Aziz and Okpoko
• Good character with supportive testimonials
• Put matters right and rectified the shortage; subsequent Accountant's Reports unqualified
• Complied with practising certificate conditions
• SIO inspection began shortly after PSA inspection leaving little time to remedy
• Duped by an older employee believed to be a licensed conveyancer