A male barrister who made inappropriate comments towards a female involved in a case he was instructed in has been suspended from practice for two years.
Alan Wheetman, called to the bar in October 1995, was found by a tribunal to have behaved in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession.
The conduct included inappropriate comments and behaviour ‘of a sexual nature’ made towards a female involved in a case he was instructed in at a magistrates’ court in 2022. Wheetman showed his photography website, which included semi-nude images, to the woman and offered to take photos of her ‘with the suggestion this could be without clothing’.
The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service ordered the Bar Standards Board should not issue a practising certificate to Wheetman for a period of 24 months.
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A BSB spokesperson said: ‘Inappropriate conduct of a sexualised nature is not something that the public should expect from members of the bar and the decision to prevent Mr Wheetman from practising reflects the seriousness of his conduct.’
The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.
