SRA: Serious misconduct
A trainee solicitor and paralegal have been banned from working in the profession following separate convictions that included attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued orders under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, meaning they cannot work in SRA-regulated practices in future without its permission.
Toby Daniel Everden was trainee solicitor in Southampton University’s legal services department.
According to the SRA, in November 2025 he pleaded guilty to charges of blackmail, making indecent photographs of a child, possessing extreme pornographic images portraying rape, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
The SRA, which did not record the sentence imposed, said: “Mr Everden’s criminal conduct occurred outside of his work. Even though the convictions were unrelated to legal practice it was found that the serious nature of the misconduct meant that it was undesirable for Mr Everden to be involved in a legal practice in future without the SRA’s prior approval.”
Anthony Sykes was a paralegal at Huddersfield firm Ramsdens from November 2022 to July 2023. In December 2025, he was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child in summer 2023 and of making an indecent photograph/pseudo photograph of a child.
He was sentenced to a community order, made subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for five years, and handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
The SRA said: “The nature of the conviction makes it undesirable for him to be involved in legal practice without the SRA’s permission. This is because anyone involved in the provision of legal services is in a position of trust and confidence. Mr Sykes’ conduct seriously undermines that trust and confidence.”