A paralegal has been subjected to a section 43 order following a conviction for child sexual offences.
Anthony Sykes was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of a child (namely two category C images).
The first offence occurred between 1 June and 10 July 2023, the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) confirmed, while he was employed as a paralegal at Ramsdens Solicitors LLP in Huddersfield.
Sykes was convicted of the offences on 11 December last year and was sentenced in January of this year to a community order. He was also subjected to notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order, both for a period of five years.
Following this conviction, the SRA deemed it necessary to impose a section 43 order, concluding that Sykes conduct meant it was “undesirable” for him to be involved in legal practice without approval from the regulator.
In conclusion, the SRA said: “Mr Sykes conduct was serious because he was convicted of sexual offences relating to children. He was directly responsible for his own conduct which had the potential to cause serious harm.
“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.”
The former paralegal was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA’s costs of £600.
