Joseph Henry Fyles

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

The Respondent, a solicitor, was convicted in the Crown Court of five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and five counts of making indecent images of a child, receiving community sentences and a sex offender's prevention order. The Tribunal found breaches of Principles 1, 2 and 6 proved. No dishonesty was alleged. Applications for a private hearing and non-publication were refused. Despite personal mitigation and medical evidence, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £2,400, not to be enforced without leave given his financial circumstances.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Criminal conviction
• Deliberate and repeated misconduct
• Took advantage of a vulnerable person
• Misconduct at the most serious end of the spectrum

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters/previously unblemished career
• Open and frank admissions from time of arrest
• Genuine insight and remorse
• Medical condition/diagnosed condition
• Efforts to obtain professional help
• Offending in private life