David Henry Deering Selwood

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1957 who had held high judicial office as a Circuit Judge, pleaded guilty and was convicted at Bow Street Magistrates Court of 12 offences of making indecent photographs of children and one of possessing such photographs, receiving a 12-month community rehabilitation order. He admitted the allegation. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated (uncontested). Although the material was at the lowest level of offensiveness and the Respondent had an unblemished, distinguished career, the Tribunal held that a solicitor who had held high judicial office and was convicted of such offences should not remain on the Roll, given the paramount importance of public confidence in the profession. He was struck off and ordered to pay agreed costs of £1,000.

Duties found breached:

• No unlawful discrimination or harassment

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent had considerable professional experience of persons procuring indecent/pornographic material from the internet and was better placed than most to be aware of the nature, effect and impact of his activities
• Offence involves the exploitation and abuse of children
• Respondent had held high judicial office

Mitigating factors:

• Offences at a very low level of offensiveness (lowest level of the Copine Scale)
• Guilty plea at the earliest opportunity
• Long unblemished, distinguished career in law and military service
• Strong testimonials attesting to his competence, integrity and probity
• Severe personal and professional consequences and adverse publicity
• No repeat viewings and no distribution of images