Rashvinderjeet Panesar

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

The Respondent, a barrister of Lincoln's Inn, admitted two charges of professional misconduct for sending grossly offensive Instagram messages to a former partner (Person A) in early January 2021 for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety. The conduct breached Conduct Rule 8 (integrity) and Core Duty 5. He had received a conditional police caution and self-referred to the BSB. The Tribunal found the messages grossly offensive but noted they were not a prolonged course of conduct, were the product of a private dispute, and were out of character. Considering significant mitigation, the Tribunal unanimously imposed a reprimand, declined to impose a fine given his financial position, and ordered costs of £2,100 (including VAT).

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Mitigating factors:

• Communications occurred during a toxic relationship breakdown that affected the Respondent
• Respondent made a genuine and sincere apology
• Immediately self-reported to and cooperated with the BSB
• Events occurred two and a half years before the hearing
• No previous disciplinary record and no repetition of behaviour
• Messages were not a prolonged course of conduct and did not persist
• Conduct was out of character and product of a private dispute, not professional practice
• Respondent had a period of low mood and heightened anxiety at the time, since recovered
• Messages were not placed in the public domain
• Recipient herself used social media to cause upset/denigrated him