And The Nightmare Begins

On the way home we did not speak, there was no conversation, just silence. It was what I needed. My mind was a mess and I didn't want to answer questions or discuss anything. 


On arriving home I showered, put my pyjamas on and climbed into bed, by the time I had done this it was 5.30am and I knew that I had to be up in the morning to go to the office to make sure everything was OK. Whilst I was thinking about what I had to do at the office I must have dosed off because the next thing I knew it was 8.40am.


I lay in the bed staring at the ceiling for about 30 mins and the events of the previous day played over and over again in my mind. It was real, it did happen and I was now officially on bail. I knew that if I lay there any longer I would drive myself insane, so I got out of bed and got ready to go to the office.


At 10.20 I arrived at the office and could see from the staff's faces that they were shocked to see me but most of all their need to know what had happened. The police had gone to the office looking for files and no doubt they had been traumatised by the whole thing.


I instructed my PA to go and get 8 coffees and then called everyone into my office.


I explained what had happened and allowed everyone to ask whatever questions they wanted, some were productive questions and some were more emotional questions, which I explained as I understood the situation.
The whole exercise of having 'the chat' bought to mind some issues that I had to deal with;
1. Calling the SRA to find out if I needed to notify them of what had happened.
2. To instruct solicitors.
3. To ensure that there was someone who was in place to take over the practise if I were to be charged.
4. What would happen to the practise if I was charged and convicted.


The questions were endless but I also had to remember that I had an office to run. My task of putting the minds of my staff at rest had been successful, my mind on the other hand was still racing around. I hadn't told my parents, my mother had just bee diagnosed with cancer and there was no way I was going to put her through this and my father was 60 years old, it would all have been too much for them.


As soon as the last of the members of staff had left I sat at my desk and called the SRA. I explained the situation to them and asked them for advice as to what my next step should be. They had no idea. The conversation went on for 40 minutes and the advice changed 4 or 5 times; I was advised to write in and explain what had happened; not to do anything until I was charged; getting another solicitor to join the firm, just in case? Basically, they didn't have a clue what they should be saying and it was a disgrace.


I was in turmoil myself but had to keep my mind strong because I had a job to do but I needed answers so that I did the right thing and the one organisation that should have been able to do this didn't have a clue.


I had no choice but to instruct solicitors (obviously, at my own cost) to deal with all these issues.


The saga continued and I could not see any light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel.