David Allen Nichols

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

David Allen Nichols, admitted 1980, was convicted on indictment at Southend Crown Court in December 1995 of handling a stolen excise licence (tax disc) and fraudulently altering it, fined £1,000 and £250 respectively. The offences related to a stolen Range Rover he had purchased bearing a stolen tax disc. He maintained his innocence and was pursuing fresh evidence for an appeal. The Tribunal found the (uncontested) allegation of conduct unbefitting a solicitor substantiated, noting the offences involved dishonesty which the profession would not tolerate even though at the lower end of seriousness. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £1,821.25 inclusive; filing of the order was suspended until 8 May 1998.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Convicted after trial of two criminal offences involving dishonesty

Mitigating factors:

• Offences at the lower end of the scale of seriousness
• Offences did not arise in the course of his practice as a solicitor and did not involve clients, staff or family
• Hitherto good character
• Undergoing a domestic crisis (divorce proceedings) at the time
• Sentencing judge believed he would not err again and hoped the ultimate sanction would not be imposed
• Fully co-operative with the Law Society investigation
• No allegation that he failed to maintain the highest professional standards