Charles Daniel Gibson

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

Charles Daniel Gibson, admitted 1972, admitted three misappropriations of client/trust funds between 1990-1991 while a partner at Belmont & Lowe: cheques of £3,000 and £2,500, and a redemption warrant of £5,250 paid into his personal building society account. He used funds for his son's school fees during a period of severe personal stress. Though the psychiatric report noted he was under great stress and had repressed memory of the acts, it could not confirm psychiatric illness and believed he knew what he was doing; the Tribunal expressly found his actions dishonest. Despite full restitution, self-reporting and strong support, the Tribunal ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay £1,060 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Three separate misappropriations amounting to a repeated course of action, not a temporary aberration
• Purported signature of co-trustee Dr L on a redemption warrant paid into respondent's personal account
• Wrongdoing was already coming to light through partners' enquiries
• Incalculable damage to reputation of the profession and public trust
• Respondent could have obtained funds elsewhere; misappropriation not necessary

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished career of over 20 years
• Under considerable personal stress (seriously ill father, near nervous breakdown, car accident)
• Actions totally out of character per psychiatric report; negligible chance of repetition
• Full restitution made of misappropriated sums with interest
• Reported himself to the Bureau and sought Law Society guidance
• Strong support from family, employers (EKB) and clients
• Genuine contrition