Clyde Stevens

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Clyde Stevens, an unregistered barrister called in 1978, was convicted in 2017 of sexually assaulting a female by penetration (committed 2015 while a barrister) and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, plus earlier indecency offences. A disciplinary tribunal, proceeding in his absence with his wife representing him, found three charges proved: breach of CD5 and rC8 (conviction; proved on lack of integrity basis, dishonesty expressly not alleged) and failure to report the charges and convictions to the BSB (CD9, rC65.1 and rC65.2). He was disbarred for charge 1, with no separate penalty for charges 2 and 3, and an order barring issue of a practising certificate. No fine or costs stated.

Duties found breached:

• Prosecutorial duty of disclosure
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Undermining of the profession in the eyes of the public (factor g)

Mitigating factors:

• Charges not contested
• Previous good character / no prior findings
• Contribution to society through work in the magistrates' court
• Depression/psychological illness
• Failure to report due to inadvertence and mental health rather than deliberate concealment
• Exemplary behaviour in prison