David Henry Deering Selwood

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

His Honour Judge David Henry Deering Selwood, a solicitor and circuit judge, was convicted at Bow Street Magistrates Court in July 2004 of 12 offences of making indecent photographs of children and one of possessing indecent photographs, receiving a 12-month community rehabilitation order. He admitted the allegation of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. Although the images were at the lowest level of offensiveness and he had an exemplary career, the Tribunal found that a solicitor of high judicial office convicted of such offences should not remain on the Roll, to preserve public confidence in the profession. He was struck off and ordered to pay £1,000 costs. No dishonesty finding was made.

Duties found breached:

• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent had considerable judicial experience with such offences and was better placed than most to understand the nature and impact of his conduct
• Offences involved exploitation and abuse of children
• Conviction damaged public confidence in the profession, particularly given high judicial office

Mitigating factors:

• Guilty plea at earliest opportunity
• Offences at very low level of the Copine Scale
• Long unblemished and distinguished career in law and military
• Strong testimonials as to competence, integrity and probity
• Significant adverse publicity and personal/professional loss
• Admitted gross error of judgment and expressed deep regret