John Urquhart

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

The Respondent, a retired solicitor who remained on the Roll but had not held a practising certificate since 2006, was convicted on indictment at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for taking/making and distributing indecent images of children under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. He received a community payback order and was subject to sex offender notification requirements for three years. A Joint Minute agreed the facts and duties. The Tribunal found him guilty of professional misconduct and, concluding such conviction was incompatible with remaining on the Roll, ordered his name struck off. Expenses awarded to Complainers (taxed on time and line basis) and usual publicity ordered. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Very serious convictions prosecuted on indictment
• Conduct considered abhorrent and extremely damaging to reputation of and public confidence in the profession
• Community payback order and subject to notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003

Mitigating factors:

• Genuine remorse and regret demonstrated
• Cooperation, entering into a Joint Minute at an early stage
• 36 years in practice with no prior disciplinary matters
• Number and nature of images at the lower end of the scale
• Conduct occurred in private life, unconnected to his work as a solicitor