Edward Nicholas Proffitt

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

The Respondent, a non-practising solicitor, was convicted at Cambridge Crown Court on 12 August 2016 of two counts of making an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, receiving a community order, a sexual harm prevention order and placement on the Sex Offenders Register. He also failed to notify the SRA of his conviction within 7 days. He admitted both allegations. The Tribunal found breaches of Principles 1, 2, 6 and 7 and Regulation 15.1(b). Although the Tribunal referred to the conduct as involving a lack of integrity, no express finding of dishonesty was made (and the failure to report was accepted as not deliberate). The Tribunal concluded nothing short of striking off would protect the public and the reputation of the profession, and ordered the Respondent be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £1,524.06.

Duties found breached:

• No abuse of process or coercive powers
• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Extremely serious criminal offence exploiting vulnerable children
• Conduct was repeated (two counts)
• High culpability - direct control over actions and experienced solicitor
• Ought reasonably to have known conduct breached obligations to protect public and reputation of profession
• Harm to reputation of the profession could reasonably have been foreseen

Mitigating factors:

• Previously long unblemished record
• Co-operated with regulator and made early admissions
• Genuine remorse and insight
• Spoke candidly before the Tribunal
• Failure to report conviction was not deliberate