Doreen June Sayburn, clerk with Peter J Wilson & Co, Walsall, banned from working for any further solicitors without written consent of Law Society and ordered to pay £2,626 costs. Allegations substantiated that she misappropriated £3,545 of client money by receiving cash from clients but not entering it into firm's account books. Sayburn was jailed for nine months in September this year after pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to theft of £1,401 and asked for further offences totalling £13,958 to be taken into account.
Rosalind Eileen Margaret Hallifax, 43, admitted 1985, practising in partnership with Hallifax Diamond & Co and as Rosalind Hallifax & Co, London EC1, at material times, fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £5,902 costs. Allegations substantiated she failed to comply with direction of Solicitors Complaints Bureau, did not subsequently reply to the bureau, did not maintain proper account books and failed to pay client funds into a client account. Tribunal said it was a sad case of an honest, hard-working, competent and conscientious solicitor with a 'rogue file'. While it had sympathy for her, however, it could not overlook the seriousness of the allegations.
John Anthony Kaye, 28, admitted 1986, practising at material times in partnership as Nevills, Tamworth, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £558 costs. Allegations substantiated he failed to pay counsel's fees when they became due and failed to reply to correspondence from Solicitors Complaints Bureau.
Peter Nigel Barnes, 63, admitted 1963, practising as Peter Barnes, Banstead, suspended indefinitely. Allegations substantiated he failed to maintain properly written accounts, wrongly drew client account money, failed to pay client money into client account, used client funds for his own purposes. Tribunal satisfied Barnes had not behaved dishonestly but said his books had been 'chaotic' and there had been clear breaches of accounting rules. Tribunal also accepted that at the time of the allegations made against Barnes he had not enjoyed good health.
