David Gass

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

David Gass, a solicitor's clerk in the debt collection department of Percy Hughes & Roberts (Sep 1993-Feb 1994), misappropriated approximately £613 of firm money by pocketing petty cash provided for court fees. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a s.43(2) order restricting his employment by solicitors without Law Society permission. Filing of the order was suspended for two months to allow his new employer, Gamlins Storrar Cowdry, to apply for permission to continue employing him under proper supervision; arrangements were made for repayment to the former firm. He was ordered to pay costs of £582.03. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Mitigating factors:

• Under extreme financial and domestic pressure at the time
• New employer (Gamlins Storrar Cowdry) stood by him and provided proper and adequate supervision
• Monies taken were to be repaid via a loan from his employer repaid through salary deductions