Colin Peter Caplan

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

Sole principal of Ashcroft & Co was found to have made dishonest withdrawals from client account for purposes unconnected with clients, causing a cash shortage of £65,089.20, plus numerous further breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules, indemnity insurance rules, practising certificate conditions, misleading notepaper, misleading an LCS caseworker, and persistent failures to respond to the SRA and LCS. He did not attend, admitted the 15 allegations and submitted medical evidence in mitigation. All 15 allegations were found proved, with an express finding of dishonesty on both objective and subjective bases. He was struck off and ordered to pay costs of £10,215.78 (excluding Investigation Accountant's costs, subject to detailed assessment).

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Act in the client's best interests
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Hold a current practising certificate