Ian Bond
Employee
835377

Decision - Agreement

Outcome: Regulatory settlement agreement

Outcome date: 12 August 2024

Published date: 19 August 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Patterson Law Limited

Address(es): Wharf Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2DA

Firm ID: 537662

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by agreement.

Decision details

1. Agreed outcome

1.1 Ian Bond, a former employee of Patterson Law Limited ('the Firm'), agrees to the following outcome to the investigation of his conduct by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA):

1. to the SRA making an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (a section 43 order) in relation to Ian Bond that, from the date of this agreement:
   1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with their practice as a solicitor
   2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice
   3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him
   4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body
   5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body
   6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such body shall permit him to have an interest in the body
      except in accordance with the SRA's prior permission
2. to the publication of this agreement
3. he will pay the costs of the investigation of £675.

2. Summary of Facts

2.1 Mr Bond, a non-authorised person, was employed by the Firm from 18 March 2019 until 14 October 2021.

2.2 On 1 October 2021, the Firm held a summer party for staff. Afterwards, some members of staff, including Mr Bond, went on to a local nightclub. In the early hours of 2 October 2021 and while at the nightclub Mr Bond touched two of his work colleagues in an inappropriate, sexual manner.

2.3 On 4 October 2021, one of the victims made a formal complaint to the Firm about the conduct of Mr Bond. The Firm started an investigation and presented Mr Bond with that complaint and a number of complaints made by other work colleagues. On 14 October 2021, Mr Bond resigned from the Firm.

2.4 A report was made to the police and after a criminal investigation, Mr Bond was charged with two offences of assault by beating, in relation to the conduct described at paragraph 2.2. On 15 January 2024, he pleaded guilty to both offences at Exeter Combined Court.

2.5 On 26 January 2024, Mr Bond was sentenced to:

1. 50 hours of unpaid community work to be completed before 25 January 2025
2. alcohol abstinence for 120 days, monitored electronically
3. participate in a rehabilitation activity as instructed by the Probation Service for a maximum of ten days
4. pay his victims compensation of £500 each.

3. Admissions

3.1 Mr Bond agrees, and the SRA accepts, that his conviction for two assaults on work colleagues is of such a nature which means it is undesirable for him to be involved in legal practice without the SRA's prior permission.

4. Why a section 43 order is appropriate

4.1 The SRA's Enforcement Strategy and its guidance on how it regulates non-authorised persons, sets out its approach to using section 43 orders to control where a non-authorised person can work.

4.2 When considering whether a section 43 order is appropriate in this matter, the SRA has taken into account the admissions made by Mr Bond.

4.3 The SRA and Mr Bond agree that a section 43 order is appropriate because:

1. Mr Bond is not a solicitor
2. his employment at the Firm between 18 March 2019 and 14 October 2021, at a time when the Firm held authorisation status as a Recognised Body, means that he was involved in a legal practice
3. he has been convicted of a criminal offence of such a nature which makes it undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior permission.

4.4 Mr Bond was convicted of a serious criminal offence of a sexual nature. It diminishes public trust and confidence if Mr Bond can continue to work in legal services unless his employment has first been approved by the SRA.

5. Publication

5.1 The SRA considers it appropriate that this agreement is published in the interests of transparency in the regulatory process. Mr Bond agrees to the publication of this agreement.

6. Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement

6.1 Mr Bond agrees that he will not deny the admissions made in this agreement or act in any way which is inconsistent with it.

7. Costs

7.1 Mr Bond agrees to pay the costs of the SRA's investigation in the sum of £675 inclusive of VAT and disbursements. Such costs are due within 28 days of a statement of costs due being issued by the SRA.