Owain
Thomas
Employee
667687
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 25 February 2020
Published date: 26 February 2020
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Albany Solicitors
Address(es): 16 Park Grove, Cardiff, CF10 3BN
Firm ID: 440517
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
IN THE MATTER OF OWAIN THOMAS
A person who was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.
SECTION 43 SOLICITORS ACT 1974 (AS AMENDED)
Mr Thomas was employed as an administration assistant at the firm at the time of his arrest.
On 14 March 2019 at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, Mr Thomas pleaded guilty to 158 offences against children, contrary to;
sections 8(1), 8(2), 10(1) and 12(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
section 1(1) of the Protection of Children Act 1978.
section 160(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
On 5 July 2019 he was sentenced to a term of 15 years imprisonment which comprised of 10 years imprisonment and 5 years on licence. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
Reasons/basis
FINDING
Owain Thomas who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice (as defined by section 43(1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974) and has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it would be undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in all of the ways mentioned below.
ORDER
To make a section 43 order that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Owain Thomas of this decision:
- no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
- no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor’s practice;
- no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
- no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body
except in accordance with a Society permission.