Decision record
Errol Waite
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number7349/1997
Date01/01/1997
OutcomeS.43 Order (clerks)
Allegation / charges
Others
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionOther
CostsGBP 2,261
Dishonesty foundYes
Errol Waite, a freelance outdoor solicitors' clerk at Fisher Meredith, submitted fraudulent claims for work not actually carried out, obtaining £629.70 (with a further £244.60 claimed but unpaid) across sixteen client matters, admitting he intended to use the money to pay a personal debt. He admitted his dishonesty when interviewed. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and, in light of his dishonesty, made a section 43 order restricting his employment within the solicitors' profession without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay costs of £2,260.66.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Admitted intention to use the money to discharge a personal debt
- Multiple client matters affected
Mitigating factors:
- Admitted dishonesty when interviewed by the firm