Eric Ashley BellAdmitted 1978Application 8010/1999Hearing, 6 April 2000:reasons, 9 June 2000

The SDT ordered the respondent, of c/o 91 Albert Rd, Middlesborough, Cleveland TS1 2PA, who practised on his own account, to be suspended from practice on 6 April 2000 for an indefinite period for unbefitting conduct, in that he had failed to maintain his accounts or to effect reconciliations with client account as required by the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1991; he had improperly withdrawn money from client account (contrary to rr.7 and 8 of those rules) and had used it for his own benefit and/or that of other clients; he had paid (or had allowed to be paid) into client account money due to him in respect of interest (contrary to r.6); he had acted (or continued to act) when a conflict of interests had arisen between a client and himself in relation to (i) the sale to the respondent by the client of real property (contrary to r.6 of the Solicitors Practice Rules 1990), and (ii) a gift by will of the client to the respondent and a close relative; he had failed to reply (or to reply with reasonable expedition) to correspondence from other solicitors and the OSS; and he had failed to act (or to act with reasonable expedition) in accordance with an award made in respect of inadequate professional service.

In January 1997 the SDT had imposed a penalty of 3,000 on the respondent for unbefitting conduct (application 7229/1996 [1997] Gazette, 26 March, 26).

It regretted that he had appeared before it on a second occasion, and noted that the respondent had clearly carried out his client's wishes.

The respondent suffered from mental health problems.

The respondent was ordered to pay costs (to be assessed).