Robert David Norman Lowe

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

The respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1981, was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court in February 1995 of fraudulent evasion of importation prohibition regarding indecent/obscene (paedophile) material and sentenced to seven months imprisonment. Large quantities of indecent videos, magazines and photographs were seized. He did not appear at the hearing but admitted his conduct brought the profession into disrepute in a letter from Zimbabwe and consented to removal from the Roll. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated, ordered him struck off and to pay costs of £943.06. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Serious criminal offence resulting in seven months imprisonment
• Material of a paedophile nature
• Conduct brought the profession into disrepute

Mitigating factors:

• Pleaded guilty and co-operated fully with authorities
• Material not disseminated in the UK
• Psychiatric report indicating problems rooted in unfortunate childhood
• Accepted his conduct brought the profession into disrepute and did not oppose removal from the Roll