Hugh Alexander Jackson

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

The Respondent, admitted as a solicitor in 2011 and formerly an employed assistant solicitor, was convicted on his own confession of possessing prohibited images of children and making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child (x9). He had accessed around 230 indecent images over approximately five years, both at home and at work, including 24 in the most serious category (Category A) and images of children as young as two. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months with additional orders (Sex Offender activity, SOPO for five years, signing the Sex Offenders Register, and a £100 victim surcharge). The Tribunal found all aspects of the allegation proved (and admitted), breaching Principles 1, 2 and 6. No express finding of dishonesty was made. Despite the Respondent's request for indefinite suspension, the Tribunal found the misconduct extremely serious and at the high end of the spectrum, and ordered he be struck off and pay costs of £2,425.22.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct involved commission of a criminal offence referred to Crown Court on grounds of seriousness
• Conduct was deliberate, repeated and continued over a period of years
• Involved taking advantage of vulnerable children, one assessed as young as two
• Respondent knew or ought to have known the conduct breached his obligations
• Images viewed both at home and at work
• He concealed his wrongdoing

Mitigating factors:

• Accepted guilt at an early stage in the magistrates' court
• Voluntarily notified the Applicant of what had occurred
• Showed insight by seeking and undertaking therapy independently before trial