Ebony Jude Thomas

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 21 March 2022

Published date: 30 March 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Tilly Bailey & Irvine LLP

Address(es): York Chambers, York Road, HARTLEPOOL TS26 9DP

Firm ID: 439536

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF: Ebony Jude Thomas of Hartlepool, Cleveland

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor

ORDER

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Ms Thomas of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body except in accordance with the SRA’s prior written permission.

Ms Thomas was ordered to pay £600 in relation to the costs of investigating this matter.

Reasons/basis

THE FACTS

Ms Thomas was employed as a legal secretary by Tilly Bailey & Irvine LLP (the firm) from 19 October 2017 until 18 March 2021, when she was dismissed for gross misconduct. The firm is a recognised body whose head office is at York Chambers, York Road, Hartlepool, Cleveland, TS26 9DP.

Ms Thomas was convicted of theft on two separate occasions as set out below. This related to conduct which occurred while she was at the firm:

1. On 31 August 2021, Ms Thomas was convicted of the theft of collectable war medals of an unknown value from a client. She was sentenced to eight months imprisonment (suspended for 24 months) and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156 and compensation to the victim of £500. She was also ordered to undertake a rehabilitation activity of 40 days.
2. On 1 December 2021, Ms Thomas was convicted of theft of jewellery to the value of £10,000 from a client. She was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment (suspended for 2 years), an unpaid work requirement of 200 hours and a rehabilitation activity of 10 days.

FINDING

Ms Thomas, who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it is undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.