Sohail Bashir

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 2008, was convicted on 8 May 2024 of distributing an indecent Category B video of a child and possession of three extreme pornographic images depicting intercourse with an animal. He received a six-month suspended prison sentence, a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, seven-year police registration, rehabilitation activities and 180 hours unpaid work. The matter was resolved by an Agreed Outcome on the papers. The Tribunal found the misconduct extremely serious, breaching Principles 2 and 5, and held no sanction less than striking off would protect the public and the reputation of the profession. No express finding of dishonesty was made. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £2,680.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct involving the commission of a criminal offence
• Misconduct which was deliberate and calculated or repeated
• Misconduct involving a sexual element
• Respondent knew or ought reasonably to have known conduct was in material breach of obligations to protect the public and reputation of the profession
• Received a suspended custodial sentence and subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Order and police registration for seven years

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted all allegations
• Respondent chose not to put forward any mitigation