Alison Griffiths stole £85k from two vulnerable clients while holding power of attorney.
A solicitor who stole £85,000 from two vulnerable clients under her care has been struck off the roll after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) condemned her actions as “extremely serious misconduct”.
Alison Hayley Griffiths, admitted as a solicitor in August 2003, worked in the wills and probate division of Swindon-based Regulatory Law Limited. She became an authorised signatory in 2018 and a director of the firm between 2019 and 2021.
The tribunal heard that Griffiths abused her position while acting under lasting powers of attorney for two elderly clients, siphoning tens of thousands of pounds for her own use. In one case, she drained nearly £50,000 from a woman suffering from dementia. In another, she misappropriated more than £35,000 from a man struggling with serious health issues.
According to an agreed outcome approved by the tribunal, Griffiths took £49,482.52 from “Client A” between December 2018 and February 2021. She used bank transfers and ATM withdrawals to divert the funds into her own account, spending the stolen money on personal goods and even a holiday.
Embed from Getty ImagesBetween March and October 2021, while entrusted with the financial affairs of “Person B”, Griffiths stole a further £35,790. The theft had devastating consequences, leaving care fees unpaid and adding significant distress to the client’s already precarious circumstances.
The tribunal noted that both victims were especially vulnerable. Client A had dementia and no family to protect her interests. Person B, meanwhile, was elderly and unwell, reliant on Griffiths to manage his care. Instead, she exploited both for personal gain.
In 2023 Griffiths pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position. The following February she was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The sentencing judge described Client A as a “particularly vulnerable victim” and criticised Griffiths for a serious breach of trust.
Although she last held a practising certificate in 2019/20, Griffiths remained on the roll until the SDT imposed its sanction. The tribunal found her conduct irredeemable and ruled that no penalty short of strike-off could protect the public or preserve confidence in the profession.
Its judgment stated: “Within the sphere of regulatory and disciplinary conduct there could be no mitigation to minimise the harm. The respondent’s misconduct could only be viewed as extremely serious and no sanction less than a strike off would be sufficient to protect the public and the reputation of the profession.”
The SDT emphasised that Griffiths’ admissions had been “properly made” and that her conviction and sentence underscored the seriousness of her actions. It also observed that she had abused her trusted role as attorney, leaving vulnerable clients financially exposed.
In an unusual step, the tribunal decided not to seek costs against Griffiths, noting that no order for costs would be made.
The case highlights the devastating consequences when a solicitor entrusted with managing the finances of vulnerable people betrays that trust. By using her authority over clients’ accounts for her own benefit, Griffiths not only stole their money but also jeopardised their care and well-being.
Her removal from the profession closes the chapter on her career but serves as a stark warning about the consequences of abusing professional power. The ruling reinforces the regulator’s commitment to safeguarding the public and maintaining the integrity of the legal profession.