Jourdan Penrice

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

Jourdan Penrice, an unregistered barrister and pupil, admitted 4 charges of dishonesty (plagiarising work of others as his own and lying about it) contrary to CD3/rC9.1. The Tribunal found express dishonesty but held that his severe depressive illness with psychotic features constituted truly exceptional circumstances warranting departure from the normal sanction of disbarment. Instead it ordered that BSB not issue a practising certificate for 3 years, that he complete a further 6 months pupillage before any certificate, and that pupillage not start within 2 years. Costs of £1,800 to the BSB.

Duties found breached:

• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Multiple acts of dishonesty within about 3 weeks
• Plagiarism by taking others' work without consent
• Gaining unauthorised access to emails of Head of Pupillage Committee
• Lied when confronted about authorship in a meeting

Mitigating factors:

• Severe depressive illness with psychotic features at material times
• Medical evidence from three psychiatrists
• Admitted guilt promptly and never denied dishonesty
• Prior good character and testimonials to competence and probity
• Conduct out of character; low risk of repetition; on medication and seeking help