Timothy John Moles

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

Timothy John Moles, a sole practitioner admitted in 1975, faced four allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor: failure to file an accountant's report, failure to notify The Law Society of a change of business address, failure to comply with a practising certificate condition (attending a Practice Management Course), and failure to respond to OSS correspondence. He admitted all allegations in a letter and did not attend. No dishonesty was alleged. Given the seriousness of the ongoing regulatory failures and his prior 1998 disciplinary appearance, and despite mitigation regarding his breakdown, ill health and personal circumstances, the Tribunal suspended him from practice for an indefinite period and ordered him to pay costs of £1,224.32.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in 1998 for similar failures (failure to account for interest and failure to respond to correspondence), which should have served as a warning
• Ongoing failure to file the accountant's report
• Serious failures in relation to his regulatory body

Mitigating factors:

• No dishonesty alleged or found
• Admitted all allegations
• Suffered a nervous/mental breakdown and depression (on medication)
• Serious health problems including chest pains and high blood pressure
• Personal difficulties including divorce and loss of home and practice
• No income or assets, living on his mother's pension
• Telephone calls to old office were automatically re-routed; not a case of a solicitor disappearing
• Undertook that he would not practise on his own account or take on partnership responsibility again