Jonathan Rodger

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

Jonathan Rodger, a barrister, admitted four charges of professional misconduct contrary to Core Duty 5, the most serious being persistent harassment/stalking of Person A over 16 months. A five-person tribunal placed Charge 1 in the Upper Range (indicative sanction disbarment) but by majority departed to impose suspension of 2 years 6 months, effective immediately. Fines of £500, £2,000 and £500 were imposed for Charges 2-4 (total £3,000), reduced due to financial difficulties. He was barred from ever having a pupil. Costs of £7,800 (including VAT) were ordered. No express finding of dishonesty was made (Charge 2 involved a 'lack of integrity'). Fines and costs payable within 3 months.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Prosecutorial duty of disclosure
• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Persistent harassment/stalking and spying on Person A over a 16-month period
• Deliberate conduct involving planning and awareness it was unwanted and causing distress
• Ignoring repeated oral and written requests (including from solicitors) to desist
• Conduct during proceedings undermining genuineness of remorse, including attempts to get third parties to intercede with Persons A and B to obtain a lesser sanction
• Improperly providing Person A with case papers (character references and BSB submissions) hoping for a lesser sanction
• Discussing the case with named individuals and showing papers to a character witness

Mitigating factors:

• Significant ill-health/poor mental health contributing to conduct (particularly Charges 2 and 4)
• Numerous excellent character references from senior members of the Bar, solicitors and judiciary
• Difficult family circumstances
• Expressions of regret and remorse
• Persons A and B asked the Tribunal to treat him leniently
• Current financial difficulties (relevant to level of fines)

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_suspension_months=30"]