Stuart Dodd

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

Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, faced eight charges of professional misconduct, all found proven. The charges concerned: failure to disclose to Middle Temple before call that he had been charged with criminal offences; convictions for breach of a non-molestation order and harassment of his former partner; failure to report promptly to the BSB being charged and convicted; and abusive, aggressive and intimidating behaviour during family court proceedings before Keehan J. The Tribunal imposed various suspensions but found the behaviour in the family court so extreme that the only appropriate sanction was disbarment. Although the Tribunal noted the concealment 'might amount to deliberate concealment,' it expressly stated it could not be sure, so no finding of dishonesty was made. He was ordered to pay costs of £3,662.71. The hearing proceeded in his absence.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Self-report to the regulator
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• High culpability; concealment from Middle Temple meant he would not have been called had the truth been known
• Conduct directed at a vulnerable person causing humiliation, fear and anxiety
• Breach of court orders and harassment conviction
• Aggressive, intimidating, coercive and abusive behaviour before the family court (described by the judge as the worst he had experienced)
• Intention to intimidate the witness and former partner
• Lack of remorse and lack of insight
• Continuing discourtesy towards and failure to cooperate with the BSB
• Likelihood of repetition

Mitigating factors:

• Harm caused by convictions found to be short-lived/moderate
• Family court conduct occurred in his own personal proceedings as a litigant in person
• Emotionally charged nature of the family case