Daniel Richard Dennis

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

The Respondent, a salaried partner at Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors, was convicted on 26 January 2012 at Manchester Crown Court of two counts of dishonestly making false representations contrary to Section 2 Fraud Act 2006, having diverted £46,700 via 33 cheques into his own account over two and a half years. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. The SDT found the allegations proved based on the conviction and his admission, found dishonesty for his own benefit and no exceptional circumstances under Sharma, and ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £1,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty for own benefit over a period of time (33 occasions over two and a half years, totalling £46,700)
• Impact on partners and an innocent third party (a fellow employee suffered serious depression and suspension)
• Abuse of trust placed in him by his partners

Mitigating factors:

• Guilty plea
• Full co-operation with the inquiry from the outset