Lindsey Bidgeway

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

The Respondent, a receptionist/typist at Granville-West Solicitors, took a client account cheque signed in blank by a partner and used it (for £244) to pay her own ILEX exam resit and future exam fees, having been told the firm would not pay resit fees. Handwriting expert evidence and witness statements established she wrote the cheque. The Tribunal found the allegation proved and found dishonesty under both limbs of the Twinsectra test. She did not attend. The Tribunal made a Section 43(2) order and ordered costs of £9,062.23 not to be enforced without leave given her financial position.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money