Shah Syed Rashid Masood Sahib

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

The Respondent, a solicitor and partner at Syeds Solicitors, was convicted at the Crown Court at Nottingham on 13 February 2024 of rape of a woman 16 or over (contrary to s.1 Sexual Offences Act 2003) committed on 28 November 2020. He was sentenced to 54 months' imprisonment, increased to 8 years by the Court of Appeal following an Attorney-General's Reference. The Tribunal, proceeding in his absence, found the allegation proved: his conduct lacked integrity (Principle 5) and failed to maintain public trust in the profession (Principle 2). The conduct was an egregious abuse of trust upon a vulnerable victim. He was struck off the roll and ordered to pay costs of £6,250.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Egregious abuse of trust upon a vulnerable victim
• Serious and lasting harm caused to the victim
• Conviction for an inherently serious criminal offence (rape) carrying an 8-year prison sentence

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings