Stuart Cottis

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 2002, was convicted on 23 June 2023 and 27 August 2024 of multiple serious child sexual offences, including sexual communication with children and arranging/facilitating child sex offences, receiving custodial sentences totalling 46 months. The SRA brought Rule 12 and Rule 14 allegations of breaches of Principles 2 and 5. He admitted all allegations. The Tribunal found the conduct demonstrated a lack of integrity and, dealing with the matter on the papers by agreed outcome, ordered he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £3,870. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Criminal convictions for serious sexual offences against children
• Highly sexualised communications with three boys for sexual gratification
• Offences committed against multiple child victims

Mitigating factors:

• No previous convictions and previous good character
• Remorse shown
• Loss of good name and profession
• Long-standing mental health struggles including depression (mitigation noted by sentencing judge but not endorsed by SRA)