Clive Robert Waters

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

Clive Robert Waters, a solicitor's clerk employed via a firm of accountants but performing accounts work at a solicitors' firm, was convicted at Chelmsford Crown Court of six thefts of client money (30 months imprisonment) and had caused false accounting entries producing a client account shortage of about £99,964. The Tribunal confirmed jurisdiction over him as a clerk, found the allegation substantiated (uncontested), made a Section 43 order restricting his employment in the profession without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay costs of £4,194.46. No express finding of dishonesty was recorded, though the conviction was for theft.

Duties found breached:

• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Improper withdrawals from client bank account totalling £88,500.62
• Overall client cash shortage of £99,964.32
• False entries in the books made at his instigation

Mitigating factors:

• Did not contest the allegation and consented to the Order
• Cooperated by admitting the facts in correspondence