Ian Ball

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

Mr Ian Ball, a barrister, admitted three charges of professional misconduct. Charge 1 arose from his 2014 conviction at Bristol Crown Court of seven counts of making indecent photographs of a child and four counts of indecent assault on a male, for which he was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment. Charges 2 and 3 concerned his failure to report his 2013 charge and 2014 conviction promptly to the BSB. The Tribunal found Charge 1 fell within the upper range of seriousness, citing the sexual abuse of a child and grooming via a position of trust, and noting the guideline that a respondent should not return to practice while on the sex offenders register. He was disbarred, with no separate penalty on Charges 2 and 3. The BSB was barred from issuing a practising certificate pending appeal, and he was ordered to pay £2,200 costs. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Prosecutorial duty of disclosure
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Seriousness of underlying offences, particularly contact offences involving sexual abuse of a child
• Use of his position of trust to groom the victim
• Charge 1 fell within the upper range of seriousness (misconduct Group B)

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent admitted all charges
• Respondent invited the Tribunal to disbar him