Becky Agates

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

Barrister Becky Agates failed to comply with two sets of county court orders to pay rent arrears and costs to two separate landlords (£12,317.90 and c.£33,000+), paying nothing towards either, and failed to report bankruptcy proceedings and a bankruptcy order to the BSB. The Tribunal, proceeding in her absence, found all four charges proved, holding her conduct diminished public trust and demonstrated lack of integrity (breaches of CD5, rC8, CD9 and rC65.6). No express finding of dishonesty was made. She received consecutive suspensions totalling 36 months, a £500 fine on the reporting charge, and was ordered to pay £4,327.26 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Intentional/deliberate misconduct
• Non-compliance continued for almost 2 years with debts remaining unpaid
• Prolonged repetition of previous misconduct (entered new tenancy while in arrears at prior property)
• Likelihood of repetition
• Significant detrimental financial and emotional impact on two private individuals
• False statement to landlord that an appeal had been filed