Skipton Based Solicitor Fined

Tue, 17 Feb 2009

A Skipton based solicitor has been fined £4,000 plus legal costs following a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) after he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in the town. The Law Society Gazette revealed that solicitor Robert Foster, a partner at Walker Foster, was found guilty of conduct ‘unbefitting a solicitor by virtue of his conviction of possessing an offensive weapon (a carving knife) in a public place, contrary to section 1(1) of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953’.

In its ruling, the SDT stated, ‘The SDT did not wish to look behind the decision made by Skipton Magistrates’ Court on September 14 2007 as it was satisfied that the magistrates were local, they knew the area well and they had heard and decided the case on its own facts’.

The SDT added, ‘The SDT noted it had been an isolated incident, out of character, and noted carefully the testimonials produced by the respondent. The SDT felt that a solicitor possessing an offensive weapon in a public place was a very serious matter, and it affected the public’s perception of a member of the legal profession. By any standards, a solicitor should not be seen to be acting in that way and a criminal conviction of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place was a very serious matter.’
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