A former partner at DWF Law, David Storry Walton, has been struck off following a criminal conviction.
- Walton attempted sexual communication with a decoy posing as a minor, leading to his arrest.
- The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal deemed the offence serious, resulting in Walton’s removal from the roll.
- He was sentenced to a community order and placed on the sex offenders register for five years.
- Walton was ordered to pay £3,000 in costs following the tribunal’s decision.
David Storry Walton, a former partner at the international law firm DWF, has been struck off the roll following his admission of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a person he believed to be under 16 years of age. This admission was made before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), which found the nature of his offence severe, leading to his removal from the profession.
The specific charge Walton faced revolved around his interactions from 11 to 25 October 2019, during which he sought sexual communication. The communications included sending explicit photographs and conversations of a sexual nature, as outlined in the agreement between the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the accused. This agreement was subsequently endorsed by the SDT.
Significantly, the incident involved a decoy rather than an actual minor. Walton’s arrest followed a sting operation by a group targeting paedophiles, during which Walton was apprehended at his residence in November 2019. The legal repercussions of his actions were underscored during his sentencing on 26 October 2023, when he received a community order inclusive of 20 rehabilitation activity days and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years.
During the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court, His Honour Judge Conrad highlighted the gravity of Walton’s actions, albeit noting Walton’s apparent remorse and conveying some degree of hope that Walton would not reoffend. Conrad observed that the thrill for Walton seemed to lie in the conversations themselves rather than any real intention to meet the decoy in person.
The SDT, emphasising the serious nature of the crime, ordered that Walton’s name be struck from the roll of solicitors, and imposed a financial penalty requiring him to pay £3,000 in costs. This action reflects the tribunal’s stance on upholding the integrity of the legal profession and safeguarding public trust.
The tribunal’s decision underscores the legal profession’s commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards.
