Latest
SRA bars apprentice solicitor over dishonesty about arrestSRA intervenes into Preston firm Gowlings SolicitorsThis week in regulation: 0 strike-offs and 5 SRA decisions, 12 to 18 October 2026Judge issued formal warning over year-long delay in tribunal case
Law Week Subscribe

SRA bars apprentice solicitor over dishonesty about arrest

Owen Goodhand was made subject to a section 43 order after he lied to his firm about being arrested and later admitted the dishonesty to its compliance officer.

Law Week ·

Automated report. This article was drafted with AI assistance from the sources listed below, without a human writing step. Law Week labels every article produced this way. A person is answerable for it: if something here is wrong, write to editor@lawweek.co.uk and we will correct it on the page and say what changed.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has imposed a section 43 order on Owen Goodhand, a former apprentice solicitor at Martin Tolhurst Partnership LLP in Gillingham, Kent, after finding he was dishonest with his employer about an arrest. The decision was made on 8 September 2026 and published on 20 October 2026.

The SRA found that Mr Goodhand sent an email to the firm’s HR manager and his supervisor on 1 April 2025 citing illness as the reason for an absence on 28 March 2025, when he knew this was untrue. It also found that on 28 April 2025 he told his supervisor he was not aware of any personal conduct issues that could breach the SRA Code of Conduct, including being arrested, when he knew this was false. The SRA ordered Mr Goodhand to pay its costs of £600.

Key points

  • Mr Goodhand was employed as an apprentice solicitor at Martin Tolhurst Partnership LLP from 6 September 2023 until his dismissal on 24 June 2025.
  • He was arrested on 28 March 2025 following a police investigation and released on bail.
  • He admitted to the firm’s compliance officer for legal practice on 8 May 2025 that he had been dishonest when questioned by his supervisor on 28 April 2025.
  • Kent Police confirmed on 2 September 2025 that the investigation into Mr Goodhand was closed with no further action.
  • The SRA imposed the order under section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 and ordered him to pay £600 in costs.

What happened

Mr Goodhand was arrested on 28 March 2025 following a police investigation and was released on bail. He was absent from work that day. On 1 April 2025 he emailed the firm’s HR manager and his supervisor stating that his absence was due to illness. On 28 April 2025, during a meeting with his supervisor, he was asked directly whether he was aware of any personal conduct issues that could constitute a breach of the SRA Code of Conduct, including being arrested, charged or convicted of a criminal matter, and he replied ‘no’. On 8 May 2025, during a meeting with the firm’s compliance officer for legal practice, he disclosed details of his arrest and admitted he had been dishonest when questioned on 28 April 2025. He was dismissed by the firm on 24 June 2025. On 2 September 2025, Kent Police confirmed the criminal investigation into him was closed with no further action.

The decision

The SRA said an order under section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed because Mr Goodhand’s conduct meant it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval. The SRA said this was because of the serious nature of his conduct, which was dishonest. Under the order, no solicitor, recognised body, or manager or employee of a recognised body may employ or remunerate Mr Goodhand, or permit him to be a manager of or have an interest in such a body, except with the SRA’s prior written permission. He was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

Sources