Clive Leslie Billington

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

Clive Leslie Billington, a sole practitioner solicitor admitted in 1987, admitted five allegations of misconduct arising from conveyancing transactions on the leasehold and freehold of a property in Preston involving lender client Barclays. He failed to disclose a sub-sale, the true source of completion funds, and the discrepancy between the £315,000 mortgage advance and the sums actually applied; acted in a conflict of interest for both buyer and seller; acted in transactions bearing the hallmarks of mortgage fraud; and breached an undertaking to Barclays. He admitted all allegations including dishonesty (Ivey test). The Tribunal approved an Agreed Outcome, finding the dishonesty over a long period so serious that, with no exceptional circumstances, the Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £2,500.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Honesty
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct involving dishonesty over a relatively long period of time
• Experienced solicitor with over 25 years' post-qualification experience at the material time
• High harm - lender client lost funds
• Harm to the reputation of the profession
• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in April 2012 (fine of £25,000 and costs of £17,500) contradicting claim of unblemished career

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted all allegations in full including dishonesty, avoiding a trial
• Full cooperation with the SRA and indemnity insurers
• No personal gain beyond modest conveyancing fees
• Made good the loss by paying Barclays out of his own limited funds (settled claim, sold property, paid over £140,000)
• Genuine subjective belief that Barclays knew about the structure of the transaction
• Delay - matters dating back over 11 years hanging over him
• Contrition, apology and profound personal and health impact
• Conduct predated his 2012 Tribunal appearance