Ann Lesley Charlton

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

Ann Lesley Charlton, a solicitor acting as attorney under an enduring power of attorney for an elderly client Mrs B, withdrew £41,550 (with a total deficit thought to be around £90,000) from the client's account for her own personal use, dealing with the matter outside the firm's books. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated and found her conduct dishonest, amounting to conscious impropriety at the highest end of the scale and a serious breach of trust. Despite mitigation including serious illness, work pressure and personal problems, she was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £3,060.84.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Breach of trust of an elderly and vulnerable client
• Heightened position of trust as appointed attorney
• Dealt with matter outside firm's books and records
• Conscious impropriety at the highest end of the scale
• Distress caused to Mr and Mrs P
• Large deficit thought to be around £90,000

Mitigating factors:

• Appeared in person and apologised publicly
• Did not contest allegations and admitted conduct
• Suffered from cancer and serious illness
• Extreme pressure of work and unhappy partnership
• Personal and family problems including father's terminal illness
• Worked well in current locum role for over 17 months
• Deliberately sought employment with no access to client funds and limited public contact
• Intention to repay in full