A barrister has been suspended from practice for three months after he touched someone under her skirt during a chambers Christmas party.
Henry Charles William King, called in July 2018, admitted he had acted in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity and which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession.
King admitted both charges of professional misconduct in relation to a 2023 Christmas party at which he touched Person A inappropriately under her skirt on the thigh/bottom and/or also on the breast. He also admitted to making unwanted comments. The touching and the comments were unwanted and/or amounted to harassment, the five-person disciplinary tribunal found.
It ordered that King be suspended for three months, to take effect from 1 April, and that he pay £2,000 (plus VAT) in costs.
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A Bar Standards Board spokesperson said: ‘Conduct of a sexualised nature has no place in the profession and the public should not expect this from members of the bar. The decision to prevent Mr King from practising, even where the tribunal stated there was compelling mitigation, reflects the seriousness of his conduct.’
