A former partner at a renowned law firm, previously convicted in a paedophile hunter group sting, has been formally struck off.
David Storry Walton, aged 68, faced sentencing in autumn 2023 for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. The offence, which occurred over two weeks in October 2019, involved communication with a decoy, not a real child. Therefore, no actual victim was involved in the incident.
Mr Walton pled guilty during his initial court appearance and subsequently received a community order at Manchester Crown Court. The conditions included 20 days of rehabilitation activity and placement on the sex offenders register for five years. His Honour Judge Conrad commented on the unusual delay between Walton’s arrest and the eventual charge, noting the nearly four-year gap as a significant deviation from the norm in such cases.
Judge Conrad expressed that Walton’s actions were undeniably wrong, highlighting that the ‘perverted thrill’ for Walton was derived more from the conversation itself rather than any substantial intention to meet. The communication ceased abruptly on 24 October, with the sting operation concluding shortly after.
The judge acknowledged Walton’s impressive character testimonials, underlining that Walton had shown significant remorse and had been open about his actions. Judge Conrad was confident that Walton would not reappear in a criminal court context again.
Walton, who qualified as a solicitor in 1981, departed from DWF in December 2019. Since then, he has participated in various recognised courses to address his issues.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority, with the endorsement of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, determined that striking off Walton was the sole appropriate and proportionate sanction. Consequently, Walton was also directed to cover costs estimated at £3,000.
The resolution of Walton’s case underscores the legal profession’s zero-tolerance approach to misconduct, regardless of an individual’s past accolades or character references.
