Brian Kenneth Ashley

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

The Respondent, admitted in 1989, was convicted on 19 March 2008 at Manchester Crown Court on his own guilty plea of 29 counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and 2 counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child contrary to the Protection of Children Act 1978. He was sentenced to 8 months' imprisonment, disqualified from working with children indefinitely, made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and placed on the Sexual Offences Register for 10 years. The Tribunal found the breach of Rule 1.06 proved (uncontested), considered the matter serious and one that would appal the public, and struck him off the Roll. Costs were reduced from £1,312.04 to £600 given his limited means (job seekers allowance) and reliance on D'Souza v The Law Society. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Conviction of 31 offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978
• Conduct serious and one that would appal the public
• Damaged the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty on his own confession
• Cooperated and was open and honest with police and probation service
• Accepted responsibility for the offences
• Was depressed after the failure of his practice in 2001