Michael Andrejczuk

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

Michael Andrejczuk, admitted 1978, was convicted at Warwick Crown Court in January 1994 of theft (mortgage fraud) and sentenced to nine months imprisonment. The Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal found him guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor arising from a conviction for an offence of dishonesty. He had previously been suspended for two years in 1990 for accounts rule breaches and other misconduct. The Tribunal, noting the crime was committed during the course of his practice, ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £560.00. The respondent did not appear.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations

Aggravating factors:

• Criminal offence committed during the ordinary course of practice as a solicitor
• Offence arose at the same time as earlier disciplinary matters (2-year suspension in 1990) but had not then come to light
• Tarnished the reputation of the solicitors' profession

Mitigating factors:

• Financial difficulties
• Personal mitigation accepted by sentencing judge resulting in shorter custodial term