Conviction: Single text
A family law specialist convicted of sending a malicious communication to his ex-partner has been rebuked by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Matthew Miles, an associate at Silk Family Law in Newcastle, accepted the sanction in a regulatory settlement agreement.
He pleaded guilty to sending an offensive text message at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court a year ago and was fined £1,269, and also ordered to pay a surcharge of £127 and costs of £85.
He admitted that he had failed to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession
In mitigation, Mr Miles pointed out that he pleaded guilty and cooperated with both the police and SRA investigations. Further, he has “expressed insight and remorse into his offending, such that the risk of re-offending appears low”.
The SRA said a rebuke was the appropriate outcome because “a sanction is required to uphold public confidence in the delivery of legal services”, while a lesser sanction “would not sufficiently address the nature of the criminal offence”.
Silk Family Law was acquired by Irwin Mitchell last year.
