Andrea Patricia Jeanette Fraser

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

Andrea Patricia Jeanette Fraser, a litigation executive/clerk (not a solicitor) at Moss & Coleman, caused 23 cheques and telegraphic transfers to be charged to four unconnected client accounts between March 1994 and April 1996, leaving a minimum cash shortage of £23,508, all utilised for her personal purposes. She admitted theft from both client and office bank accounts and made only partial repayment (£3,000). She was convicted of a criminal offence and received a custodial sentence. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a section 43 order controlling her future employment in the profession, plus costs of £1,102.15.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Theft from client and office accounts totalling over £24,000
• Funds used for her own personal purposes
• Conduct spanning over two years
• Criminal conviction with custodial sentence imposed
• Only partial repayment made with no proposal for further repayment
• Additional unsubstantiated travelling expense claims

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted theft on interview and in correspondence
• Receiving treatment for poor mental health at the time of the hearing
• Partial rectification/repayment of £3,000