Past disciplinary findings

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, engaged in conduct before call which was discreditable to a barrier and which was not, before his call on 22 November 2018, fairly disclosed in writing to the Benchers of the Inn calling him, namely Middle Temple in that,

(a) On 18 September 2018, in the Family Court at Worcester, Mr. Dodd was made subject to a Non-Molestation Order which provided that he would not approach or attempt to communicate with Person A and/or Child 1 or Child 2, save for as provided by a Child Arrangement Order. On 30 September 2018 Mr. Dodd breached the Non-Molestation Order, by sending a WhatsApp message to Child 2, for which Mr. Dodd was convicted on 16 May 2019 of breach of a Non-Molestation Order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996

(b) Between 11 September 2018 and 3 October 2018 Mr. Dodd pursued a course of conduct which amounted to the harassment of Person A, and which he knew or ought to have known amounted to the harassment of Person A, by repeatedly attending Person A’s address, removing Child 1 from Person A and refusing to return him despite police instructions for him to return Child 1, contacting Child 2, and making inappropriate enquiries of third parties about Person A, for which Mr. Dodd was 2 convicted on 12 November 2019, of harassment contrary to s2(1) & (2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, behaved in a way which is likely to dimmish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession in that:

(a) He was convicted on 16 May 2019 of breach of a Non-Molestation order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996, for which he was sentenced on 14 November 2019 to 4 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and was required to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, to pay £500 compensation, and made subject to a restraining order until further order.

(b) He was convicted on 12 November 2019 of harassment contrary to s2(1) & (2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, for which he was sentenced on 14 November 2019 to 4 months imprisonment (concurrent to the above) suspended for 18 months, and was required to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work (again concurrent to the above).

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, behaved in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity in that:

(a) He was convicted on 16 May 2019 of breach of a Non-Molestation Order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996, for which he was sentenced on 14 November 3 2019 to 4 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, and was required to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work, to pay £500 compensation, and made subject to a restraining order until further order.

(b) He was convicted on 12 November 2019, of harassment contrary to s2 (1) & (2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, for which he was sentenced on 14 November 2019 to 4 months imprisonment (concurrent to the above) suspended for 18 months, and was required to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work (again concurrent to the above).

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, called to the Bar on 22 November 2018, behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession in that he failed to report promptly to the Bar Standards Board that he had been charged on 9 October 2018 with an indictable offence namely breach of a NonMolestation Order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996.

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, called to the Bar on 22 November 2018, behaved in a way which could be reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his honesty and/or integrity in that he failed to report promptly to the Bar Standards Board that he had 4 been charged on 9 October 2018 with an indictable offence namely breach of a NonMolestation Order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996.

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, called to the Bar on 22 November 2018, failed to be open and cooperative with his regulator in that he failed to report promptly to the Bar Standards Board that he had been charged on 9 October 2018 with an indictable offence namely breach of a Non-Molestation Order contrary to Section 42A of the Family Law Act 1996.

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, called to the Bar on 22 November 2018, behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession by virtue of his conduct at a) to f) of this charge, individually or cumulatively, as found by Mr. Justice Keehan in his judgment of 1 August 2019, in that during family court proceedings on or around 29, 30, 31 July 20149, Mr. Dodd:

a) Submitted questions to the judge for the purposes of the cross examination of the mother, which were abusive and/or of no forensic value

b) Used bad language

c) Described the court as a Kangaroo Court

d) Was aggressive and intimidating in his behaviour and his manner, in general and/or towards a witness

e) Was coercive and controlling

f) Was abusive towards the judge

Mr. Stuart Eric Dodd, an unregistered barrister, called to the Bar on 22 November 2018, behaved in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity by virtue of his conduct at a) to f) of this charge, individually or cumulatively, as found by Mr. Justice Keehan in his judgment of 1 August 2019, in that during family court proceedings on or around 29, 30, 31 July 20149, Mr. Dodd:
g) Submitted questions to the judge for the purposes of the cross examination of the mother, which were abusive and/or of no forensic value

h) Used bad language

i) Described the court as a Kangaroo Court

j) Was aggressive and intimidating in his behaviour and
his manner, in general and/or towards a witness

k) Was coercive and controlling

l) Was abusive towards the judge