Neil John Harrison

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1980, was convicted at Exeter Crown Court on 8 November 2006 of possessing an indecent photograph of a child. He was fined £400 and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for five years; his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The Tribunal found the conviction amounted to conduct unbefitting a solicitor. Despite mitigation that the offence was at the lower end of the scale, the Tribunal ordered him struck off to maintain the reputation of the profession and public confidence, and to pay costs of £1,529.50. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Personal probity and fitness to practise

Aggravating factors:

• Serious criminal conviction damaging reputation of the profession
• Required to sign Sex Offenders' Register for five years
• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in 1999 (fined £1,500 for failing to file Accountant's Report)

Mitigating factors:

• Conviction at lower end of scale for offences of this kind (financial penalty only imposed by the Crown Court)
• No suggestion of distribution; simple possession of one image
• Long career in practice since 1980
• Undischarged bankrupt in parlous financial position