David Marriott

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

Non-practising solicitor David Marriott was convicted at Leeds Crown Court on 31 October 2018 of two counts of sexual assault on two female paramedics who had assisted him. He received a suspended custodial sentence, was placed on the Barring List for 10 years and paid a victim surcharge. He also failed to notify the SRA promptly of his conduct, conviction and sentence, breaching Principles 2, 6 and 7 and Outcome 10.3. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers by way of Agreed Outcome, found the allegations proved beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay £1,000 costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct resulted in two serious criminal convictions
• Offences were deliberate despite intoxication
• Offences were repeated in respect of a second victim
• Victims were vulnerable, providing a public service as paramedics
• Respondent sought to conceal misconduct by failing to self-report
• Respondent knew or ought to have known better
• Conviction came to SRA's attention via newspaper, not self-report

Mitigating factors:

• Misconduct was an isolated, albeit serious, event
• Admission demonstrated some insight into the seriousness
• Remorse, guilt and shame expressed
• Steps taken to address alcoholism, abstinent since July 2018 and engaged with support services
• Strong personal mitigation noted by sentencing judge