By Robert J. Marsh-
An experienced solicitor of over four decades has been fined £2,000, and ordered to pay £300 costs after driving to a police station with alcohol in his system.
Steven Baggott who is an associate with North Lincolnshire practice Pepperells Ltd, was caught with alcohol in his system when he drove whilst drinking as an on-call solicitor dealing with out-of-hours cases. Baggot had been contacted by the police and asked to represent a client in interview.
Instead of declining the request to attend the station, he drove to the station with alcohol in his system. U[on his arrival, officers noted the smell of alcohol on his breath and decided to conduct a test on him. He was over the limit and was arrested for driving with excess alcohol. The Solicitors Regulations Authority described it as ”deliberate and reckless”, without any justification. The finding is embarrassing to Baggott, who has no excuse for flouting the same law he is paid to defend. Solicitors are of a higher calibre than most everyday citizens, and are more cognisant of the law and its implications than most regular people. Making a school boy error of this nature questions his true principles, no matter how good a solicitor he may be.
Baggott who was admitted to the roll in 1977, was subsequently disqualified from driving for 16 months, and fined £440. Baggott admitted that he had failed to behave in a way which maintained the trust of the public. Baggott said the misconduct arose because he ‘let his sense of duty override his common sense’. He took steps to minimise the effect of his actions on the client by arranging for another solicitor to attend and represent them, resulting in only a short delay. Solicitors are expected to abide by the law, so it is always shocking when such high professionals contribute to the endangering of life.