Keith Alan Shaw

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

Keith Alan Shaw, admitted 2006, pleaded guilty on 13 November 2017 to one count of fraud by false misrepresentation and five counts of making false instruments (forged letters to a Local Authority supporting his own planning application). He received a 20-week suspended sentence, 200 hours unpaid work, compensation and costs in the criminal proceedings. The SRA brought conviction-based allegations breaching Principles 1, 2 and 6. The Tribunal approved an Agreed Outcome, found the fraud conviction explicitly required a dishonesty finding, and found no exceptional circumstances. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £1,800 costs. The Tribunal refused the Respondent's application for no publicity, ordering publication of both the Order and Judgment (with a 14-day delay), notwithstanding medical evidence of his condition.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Commission of serious criminal offences leading to a suspended custodial sentence
• Fraud offence involved a finding of dishonesty
• Breaches took place over a period of time involving persistent/substantial planning
• Misconduct he knew or ought to have known breached obligations to protect the public and reputation of the profession
• Direct control over the matters and personal financial/business interests involved

Mitigating factors:

• First appearance before the Tribunal
• Cooperation with SRA investigation
• Made admissions at all stages of proceedings
• Acknowledged his career as a solicitor was over