Roberta
Tovey
Employee
7817208
This individual is also known as Bobbie Palmer
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 9 October 2026
Published date: 23 October 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Thompsons Solicitors LLP
Address(es): Tony Benn House, Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6AY
Firm ID: 556695
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Who does this decision relate to?
Roberta Dawn Tovey, whose last known address was in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.
At the time of her conduct, Ms Tovey was employed as a paralegal by Thompsons Solicitors LLP (the firm), a licensed body, at its office located at Tony Benn House, Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6AY.
Summary of decision
A finding of dishonesty was made against Ms Tovey and she was made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
The SRA has disqualified Ms Tovey from holding any of the following roles in law firms regulated by the SRA:
- Head of Legal Practice
- Head of Finance and Administration
- A manager
- An employee.
Reasons/basis
The facts of the case
It was found that Ms Tovey:
Allegation 1
On or around 8 July 2025, intercepted post from South Gloucestershire Council to the firm’s payroll department, relating to an attachment of earnings order concerning her personal debt, and took it home without permission. She thereby breached:
Principles 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles.
Allegation 2
Between around 8 July 2025 and 15 August 2025, misled the firm regarding the status of the South Gloucestershire Council debt matter by:
- stating verbally on or around 8 July 2025 to a colleague that the debt matter had been resolved and was a council mistake, when she knew this not to be true;
- stating in a WhatsApp message to a colleague on 11 August 2025 that the council had the wrong person, when she knew this not to be true; and
- on 15 August 2025, forwarding an edited email to the firm which appeared to be recent correspondence from South Gloucestershire Council, when she knew that it was not. She thereby breached:
Principles 2, 4 and 5 of the SRA Principles.
And in doing so committed or substantially contributed to a serious breach of any regulatory obligation of a nature that indicates it is undesirable for them to carry out activities as a HOLP, HOFA, manager or employee (as defined by the SRA Glossary) of a licensed body.
Our decision on sanction
Ms Tovey’s conduct breached relevant duties that applied to her as an employee of the firm, namely Principles 2, 4 and 5 of the SRA Principles.
It was found that it would be undesirable for Ms Tovey to act as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Ms Tovey was disqualified from holding any of these roles.
She was also directed to pay costs of £600.
SRA Principles
SRA Principle 2 - You act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
SRA Principle 4 - You act with honesty.
SRA Principle 5 - You act with integrity.