Barrister Paul Wynell-Sutherland was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 12 June following a finding on five charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal found that Mr Wynell-Sutherland behaved in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession. In June 2019, Mr Wynell-Sutherland drove a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol which exceeded the prescribed legal limit. He also failed to stop the vehicle when required by a police constable. He was convicted of these offences in July 2019 but failed to report these promptly to the BSB.
In separate incidents in March and May 2023, Mr Wynell-Sutherland drove a motor vehicle while disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence and when suspected of driving whilst unfit through drink and having been required to provide a breath test, failed without reasonable excuse to do so. He was convicted of these offences in February 2024 but failed to report these promptly to the BSB.
Spokesperson, The Bar Standards Board said:
“The public should be able to expect barristers not to break the law. Barristers also have an obligation to inform their regulator when they are convicted of a criminal offence. In this case, Mr Wynell-Sutherland repeatedly failed to meet these expectations, and his conduct fell below the high standards reasonably expected of barristers. The sanction reflects this.”
The tribunal’s findings remain subject to appeal.
Paul Wynell-Sutherland was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in October 2000.
