Former DWF Law partner struck off after sexual communication with person under 16

A former partner at international firm DWF Law has been struck off after he admitted trying to communicate with an underage person for the purpose of sexual gratification.

David Storry Walton, 68, entered a guilty plea to the charge of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child between 11 October 2019 and 25 October 2019. He was sentenced on 26 October 2023 at Manchester Crown Court to a community order with a condition of 20 rehabilitation activity days. Walton was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

Walton, admitted to the roll in June 1981, admitted the allegation against him before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal that he, while in practice as a solicitor, for the purpose of sexual gratification, intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 where the communication was sexual in nature.

The communications involved sending sexually explicit photographs, asking about sexual preferences, and talking about masturbation, the agreed outcome between the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Walton, and granted by the SDT, states.

The offence related to a decoy and not a genuine child.

Walton was arrested at his home in November 2019 following a ‘sting’ operation by a paedophile hunter group. Walton reported his arrest ‘in relation to an “internet related offence”’. The firm also notified the SRA.

At the time, Walton was a partner at Manchester-based firm DWF Law. He left on 12 December 2019. Walton does not have a current practising certificate.

During his sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, His Honour Judge Conrad acknowledged what Walton had done was wrong and he had shown remorse. He added: ‘I get the impression from reading the messages and reading what is said about the messages that in fact the perverted thrill for you was in the conversation itself rather than any concluded intention of meeting the other person.

‘It has, of course, been a matter of great shame to you and you have shown some courage in bringing it out in the open with those who know you and highly respect you; in fact, rarely have I seen such an impressive body of testimonials. I am as confident as I can be that no criminal court will ever see you again.’

The SDT judgment states: ‘The tribunal determined that the serious nature of the offence for which Mr Walton had been convicted was such that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction was to strike Mr Walton off the roll.’

Walton was also ordered to pay £3,000 costs.