Victoria Wadsworth (strike off) (2017) MHLO 51 (SDT): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:55, 8 October 2021

Solicitor struck off - imaginary expert reports Since 2007 Victoria Wadsworth had been in charge of a law firm's mental health department, and had invented another firm called "Healthy Minds" to pretend to write medical reports for clients, at the Legal Services Commission's expense. In the Crown Court she had admitted to obtaining £25,000 between 2007 and 2012 (though the law firm stated it had repaid £181,887.72, and the Legal Aid Agency statement referred to a value exceeding £134,000 being repaid). At the time of the hearing, she was in prison having been sentenced to three years (reduced to two on appeal) for fraud, but the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal proceeded in her absence. The Tribunal agreed that the rule 5(2) allegations which had commenced its proceedings had been superseded by the conviction and should lie on file. The Tribunal found breaches of Principle 1 (which requires a solicitor to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice), Principle 2 (which requires a solicitor to act with integrity) and Principle 6 (which requires a solicitor to behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and in the provision of legal services). The mitigation related to Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 proceedings, financial hardship, and caring responsibilities for her severely disabled adult son. She was struck off the roll of solicitors and ordered to pay the agreed costs of £21,864.10.

Citations

Case No. 11332-2015

Originally this case was given citation "[2016] MHLO 58 (SDT)" based on the hearing date of 7/12/16, but since the decision was dated 10/1/17 it was later corrected and the citation is now [2017] MHLO 51 (SDT).

External links

SDT judgment

John Hyde, 'Lawyer invented medical firm to raid £25k legal aid funds' (Law Society Gazette, 18/1/17)

SRA website: Wadsworth, Victoria Barbara - 320364 . This sets out two SRA decisions: (1) prosecution, 13/5/14, and (2) control of practice, 27/6/14.

CASES DATABASE

Full judgment: No Bailii link (neutral citation is unknown or not applicable)
Download here

Subject(s):

SRA decisions🔍

Date: 10/1/17🔍

Court: Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal🔍

Judge(s):

T Cullen🔍
M Millin🔍
V Murray-Chandra🔍

Parties:

Solicitors Regulation Authority🔍
Victoria Wadsworth🔍

Citation number(s):

What links here:

Published: 11/2/17 21:38

Cached: 2025-06-17 19:54:54

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 |Parties=Solicitors Regulation Authority, Victoria Wadsworth
 |Sentence=Solicitor struck off - imaginary expert reports
-|Summary=''Since 2007 Victoria Wadsworth had been in charge of a law firm's mental health department, and had invented another firm called "Healthy Minds" to pretend to write medical reports for clients, at the Legal Services Commission's expense. In the Crown Court she had admitted to obtaining £25,000 between 2007 and 2012 (though the law firm stated it had repaid £181,887.72, and the Legal Aid Agency statement referred to a value  exceeding £134,000 being repaid). At the time of the hearing, she was in prison having been sentenced to three years (reduced to two on appeal) for fraud, but the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal proceeded in her absence. The Tribunal agreed that the rule 5(2) allegations which had commenced its proceedings had been superseded by the conviction and should lie on file. The Tribunal found breaches of Principle 1 (which requires a solicitor to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice), Principle 2 (which requires a solicitor to act with integrity) and Principle 6 (which requires a solicitor to behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and in the provision of legal services). The mitigation related to [[Proceeds of Crime Act 2002]] proceedings, financial hardship, and caring responsibilities for her severely disabled adult son. She was struck off the roll of solicitors and ordered to pay the agreed costs of £21,864.10.''
+|Summary=Since 2007 Victoria Wadsworth had been in charge of a law firm's mental health department, and had invented another firm called "Healthy Minds" to pretend to write medical reports for clients, at the Legal Services Commission's expense. In the Crown Court she had admitted to obtaining £25,000 between 2007 and 2012 (though the law firm stated it had repaid £181,887.72, and the Legal Aid Agency statement referred to a value  exceeding £134,000 being repaid). At the time of the hearing, she was in prison having been sentenced to three years (reduced to two on appeal) for fraud, but the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal proceeded in her absence. The Tribunal agreed that the rule 5(2) allegations which had commenced its proceedings had been superseded by the conviction and should lie on file. The Tribunal found breaches of Principle 1 (which requires a solicitor to uphold the rule of law and the proper administration of justice), Principle 2 (which requires a solicitor to act with integrity) and Principle 6 (which requires a solicitor to behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in him and in the provision of legal services). The mitigation related to [[Proceeds of Crime Act 2002]] proceedings, financial hardship, and caring responsibilities for her severely disabled adult son. She was struck off the roll of solicitors and ordered to pay the agreed costs of £21,864.10.
 |Detail===Citations==
 Case No. 11332-2015