A solicitor and convicted stalker has been suspended from practice for six months by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
The SDT approved an agreed outcome in which Matthew Howells admitted that between March 2022 and July 2022, he stalked an ex-girlfriend which he knew, or ought to have known, amounted to the harassment of her by repeatedly making contact and sending her unsolicited items.
Howells admitted stalking at Wimbledon Magistrates Court in March 2023. He was made subject to a 12-month community order, which included a 10-day rehabilitation requirement, a two-year restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim directly or indirectly or attending her home address and ordered to pay £500 compensation to the victim.
He had qualified as a solicitor in 2018 and at the time was with City firm Cooley (UK) LLP. He left the firm in April 2023.
Howells admitted the allegation, brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, ‘on the basis of conduct which occurred up to 23 June 2022’.
In mitigation, which was not endorsed by the SRA, Howells said he ‘deeply regrets the impact of his behaviour’, took ‘full responsibility for his conduct’ and ‘remains deeply committed to the legal profession’.
Read more
The SDT judgment said Howells’ conduct had been ‘planned and had continued over a period of time’.
It added: ‘His conduct, as admitted by him, was in material breach of his obligation to protect the public and the reputation of the profession. He was solely responsible for the circumstances of his misconduct and his culpability was high.
‘The tribunal determined that given the serious nature of his misconduct, sanction such as no order, a reprimand and a financial penalty were not proportionate.’
Approving the agreed outcome and suspending Howell, the judgment said ‘there was a need to protect the public and the reputation of the profession from future harm but that such protection did not necessitate Mr Howells being indefinitely suspended from practise or being struck off the roll’.
‘The tribunal considered that a fixed suspension for a period of six months was appropriate and proportionate to Mr Howells misconduct and also provided the requisite level of protection for the public and the repute of the profession,’ it added.
Howell’s six month suspension began on 27 February. He must also pay £2,096 in agreed costs.
