A law firm employee who assaulted colleagues after a staff party will not be allowed to work in the profession again.
Ian Bond, a non-solicitor who worked for Devon firm Patterson Law Limited, had joined other staff members at a local nightclub after the party and touched two work colleagues in an inappropriate, sexual manner.
One of the victims made a formal complaint two days later and the firm started an investigation, later presenting Bond with that complaint and a number of other complaints from colleagues. In October 2021 he resigned from the firm where he had worked for two an a half years.
A report was made to the police and Bond was charged with two offences of assault by beating in relation to his conduct after the staff party. In January this year he pleaded guilty to both offences at Exeter Combined Court and was sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid community work. He must also be alcohol-abstinent for 120 days, participate in a rehabilitation activity and pay each of his victims £500 compensation.
The SRA said Bond had been convicted of a serious criminal offence of a sexual nature, and he should not be allowed to work again in legal services without securing permission.
Bond agreed to be subject to a section 43 order and to pay £675 costs.
