David Storry Walton

David Storry Walton, a 68-year-old former partner at the prominent law firm DWF, has been struck off the roll of solicitors following his conviction for a sexual offence involving online communication with what he believed to be a child. The incident, which occurred over a two-week period in October 2019, came to light through a 'sting' operation conducted by a paedophile hunter group, rather than traditional police investigation.

Walton was arrested after the group confronted him at his home shortly after the communications ceased. The offence involved explicit messages exchanged with a decoy posing as a minor, though no actual child was involved and no physical meeting took place. Walton pleaded guilty at his first court appearance, demonstrating early acceptance of responsibility. The case was heard at Manchester Crown Court in autumn 2023, where His Honour Judge Conrad presided.

• The judge noted the nearly four-year delay between Walton's arrest and charging, describing it as 'unexplained' and setting the case apart from similar offences.
• Judge Conrad remarked on the nature of the communications: 'What you did was very wrong, of course. I get the impression from reading the messages and reading what is said about the messages that in fact the perverted thrill for you was in the conversation itself rather than any concluded intention of meeting the other person.'
• The judge highlighted that the activity stopped on 24 October 2019, and the confrontation occurred just weeks later.

Sentencing Walton to a community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activity requirements, the judge emphasised there was 'no punitive element' to the penalty. Walton was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years. In delivering the sentence, Judge Conrad praised Walton's character, stating he had 'rarely… seen such an impressive body of testimonials' and that Walton had shown 'some courage' in being open about the events. The judge expressed confidence in Walton's remorse and insight, saying: 'I am as confident as I can be that no criminal court will ever see you again.'

Following his departure from DWF in December 2019, Walton reportedly attended recognised courses to address his issues. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), in approving an agreed outcome with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), deemed striking off as 'the only appropriate and proportionate sanction'. Walton was ordered to pay £3,000 in costs. This professional sanction underscores the regulatory body's zero-tolerance stance on such misconduct among legal practitioners.

Source: Legal Futures article dated 4 October 2024, detailing the SDT proceedings and court sentencing.