A former trainee at Eversheds Sutherland has been thrown out of the profession after being convicted of sexual assaults.

Thomas Hagyard was invited to a housewarming party in October 2017 by a fellow trainee at which he sexually assaulted two women. The firm suspended Hagyard when it became aware of the allegations and sacked him the following June.

Earlier this month Hagyard was jailed for eight years after being convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of two counts of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He had insisted the activity was consensual.

In a decision published today, the Solicitors Regulation Authority disclosed that Hagyard has been issued with a Section 43 order banning him from working in the legal profession.

Hagyard was ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.