The Respondent did not attend the hearing, having indicated in a letter dated 26 February 2025 that he was aware of the hearing but would not attend. In the light of this information the hearing went ahead in his absence.

The Tribunal found proved to the requisite standard that by reason of his conviction the Respondent’s conduct had lacked integrity and also amounted to a breach by him of the requirement to behave in a way which maintains the trust placed by the public in him, the profession and in the provision of legal services (respectively Principles 5 and 2 of the Principles 2019).

Given the inherent seriousness of the Respondent’s conduct nothing less than his strike off from the roll of solicitors was required.