Henry Hendron

Last updated

Henry Hendron
Born(1980-12-28)28 December 1980
NationalityBritish
OccupationBarrister
Years active2006–2016, 2019–2023

Henry Joseph Christopher Hendron (born 28 December 1980 [1] ) is an English former barrister [2] who was known for representing several celebrity clients. In 2016, Hendron pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply, for supplying chemsex drugs that killed his boyfriend in a drug overdose the previous year. [3] [4] Hendron was convicted in 2023 of four offences on admission of the charges related to buying or seeking to buy drugs from his clients. [5] [6]

Contents

Life and education

Hendron grew up in Ealing, London where he went to Gunnersbury Boys' School, [7] before studying politics at Royal Holloway, University of London. [8] As a 17-year-old, Hendron addressed the 1998 Conservative Party Conference, advocating the reinstatement of corporal punishment and longer jail terms. [7]

In 1999 Hendron featured in a newspaper after apprehending and making a citizen's arrest of a thief fleeing a branch of Santander Bank that he had robbed. [9]

Hendron has a twin brother Richard, a former inspector in the police, and political candidate, who was working as a criminal barrister as of 2015. [10] The two were national competitive kayakers, and from 2009 to 2021 held the record for the world's longest canoe and kayak race, the 1,000 mile "Yukon 1000". [11]

In 2017 Henry obtained a temporary injunction to prevent Richard evicting him from a flat. In a subsequent court hearing Richard called Henry a "drug addict" and the injunction was discharged when Henry failed to attend the hearing. [12] [13] A clip of Hendron speaking in support of Brexit as an audience member of BBC Question Time went viral on Twitter. [14]

Hendron was declared bankrupt in March 2021 due to unpaid income tax. [1]

Criminal convictions

Hendron has three convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. [15] [16]

Hendron was arrested in January 2015 after his 18-year-old boyfriend died of a drug overdose in Hendron's flat in Middle Temple, [17] [18] where a number of drugs were recovered by the police. [19] [20] Charged with two counts of conspiracy to supply, two counts of possession with intent to supply, and two counts of possession, [20] Hendron initially denied all charges before changing his plea to guilty on the two counts of possession with intent to supply. [21] One of the charges related to the Class B drug mephedrone, while the other related to the Class C drug GBL. [15] Following the two guilty pleas, the other charges were dropped by the prosecution. [21] Hendron was represented by his brother Richard during initial hearings, [22] [23] but changed counsel subsequently. [3] [16] In his evidence, Hendron admitted buying the drugs from then BBC Radio 3 producer Alexander Parkin, [3] but only to share with his boyfriend and to sell on to his friends at cost price. [15] Hendron was sentenced to a community order with 18 months' supervision and 140 hours' unpaid work. [16] [24]

Hendron pleaded guilty in March 2023 to three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence and one of possessing a Class A drug in or around 2020 to 2021 while he was practising as a barrister. The offences related to Hendron buying or seeking to buy drugs from two clients he was representing around the same time. [5] [6] In June 2023, Hendron was sentenced to 14 months in jail. [25] Hendron’s appeal against his sentence was rejected by the Court of Appeal in March 2024. [26]

Hendron was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in November 2006. [2] [27] Hendron undertook his 'first six' months of his pupillage at the commercial and professional negligence set 4 New Square within Lincoln's Inn, and then spent the 'second six' within the Government Legal Service. Upon qualifying as a barrister Hendron's early legal career took place within the Civil Service, [28] working for the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health as it was then known. [29] On leaving the Civil Service, he worked in commercial law in the Channel Islands before joining the London-based No 3 Fleet Street chambers. [28]

In 2010, Hendron began offering direct access services through an online portal he established. [28] This in turn evolved into a new chambers in 2012 where he was the Head of Chambers. [27] Hendron has represented various high profile individuals, including The Apprentice's 2010 winner Stella English against Alan Sugar, [27] [30] the Earl of Cardigan against the trustees of Savernake Estate, [31] Nadine Dorries MP against Derek Draper, [32] [27] and Suzanne Evans seeking an injunction against her suspension from the UK Independence Party. [33] [34] Hendron's relationship with the Earl of Cardigan fell apart later, however, with Hendron making a claim of unpaid fees of £27,700 against the Earl in 2020. [35] [36] [32]

In 2014 Hendron published a blog post containing "disparaging statements against witnesses" in the trial of his friend Nigel Evans MP. [37] This led to Hendron being reported by the trial judge to the Attorney General for a case of "prima facie contempt of court". [38] [39] After referring himself to the Bar Standards Board, [38] [39] he was fined £2,000 by the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service. [37]

Hendron has received reprimands and fines as a result of his drink-driving convictions. [15] Following his conviction for drug dealings, he was suspended for 3 years backdated to May 2016 after admitting to behaving in a way "which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence in which the public places in a barrister or the profession". [40] [41] Concurrently, he was firmly reprimanded and fined £2,000 total for failures in management as Head of Chambers around failing to pay or giving adequate notice of dismissal to a barrister who worked with him at his chambers. [15] [41]

Hendron was reported in 2018 to have been fined £250 by the Bar Standards Board for posting on social media that he was having lunch at Middle Temple while suspended, even though the Bar Standards Board acknowledged Hendron would have been entitled to attend the Inn as a guest of a current member. [42] The decision to fine Hendron £250 was subsequently overturned on appeal by Hendron on the basis that the panel lacked jurisdiction under the Handbook. The Bar Standards Board accepted it lacked jurisdiction, and treated the decision to fine Hendron £250 as not being made and thereafter amended the Handbook so as to give it jurisdiction over Hendron, and then resubmitted the original complaint to a new panel who doubled the fine to £500.

As a result of his interim suspension imposed following his conviction for drug dealings, he was unable to represent one of his direct access clients who had already paid for his service for a hearing in May 2016. [43] [44] The client complained to the Legal Ombudsman after Hendron failed to reimburse the fee paid. [44] [45] Hendron was directed by the Ombudsman to reimburse the fee of £650 along with a compensation of £200, which Hendron then failed to do. [43] For failure to comply with the Ombudsman's direction, and failure to co-operate with a follow-up complaint, he was suspended again this time for 3 months, along with a prohibition from accepting or carrying out direct access instructions for 9 months. [43] [45] [46] The sanction was subsequently overturned following a discovery by the Bar Standards Board while an appeal by Hendron was pending to the High Court that as he was already suspended and non-practising at the time of the non-payment and subsequent non-co-operation, the Bar Standards Board and Legal Ombudsman lacked jurisdiction. An application by the Bar Standards Board that the case be remitted so that a new charge for failure to reimburse the £650 fee could be formulated was denied by the High Court. [44] [47] [48] [49]

Hendron was once again charged by the Bar Standards Board in 2020, in relation to his conduct during his 3 years' suspension. [50] Nine of 18 charges of professional misconduct were found proven by the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service in May 2021. Three of the charges were related to him holding himself out as a barrister providing legal services on his websites, and failure to take the website down following requests from the Bar Standards Board. Two of the charges were related to him holding himself out as a barrister in email correspondence with a solicitor and with a lay client. Two of the charges related to him conducting reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007 by conducting litigation through serving a Notice of Acting. The final two charges related to him using inappropriate or threatening language or both in email correspondence. Apart from the matter of holding himself out as a barrister on his websites where he was only found to have "behaved in a way which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence in which the public places in a barrister or the profession", Hendron was also found to have "behaved in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity" on all the other incidents where the charges was proven. For the misconduct, Hendron was reprimanded and prohibited from offering direct access services for two years, as well as being required to attend a training course before resuming direct access work. [51] [52] [53]

Hendron unsuccessfully stood for election to the Bar Council in 2014. [37] [54] He again attempted to stand for election in 2020. However, his initial paperwork submitted 3 minutes before the deadline for nomination was rejected for having his initials where a signature was deemed to be required. His re-submitted paperwork was then rejected for being a minute late. [55]

Hendron was disbarred by the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service in July 2024 for behaviours "which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his integrity and independence" and "was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession". [56] [57]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrister</span> Lawyer specialised in court representation in certain jurisdictions

A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialize in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching the law and giving legal opinions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawyer</span> Practitioner of law

A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton</span> British politician, peer and barrister (born 1951)

Charles Leslie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton, is a British Labour politician, peer and barrister who served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2003 to 2007.

Legal ethics are principles of conduct that members of the legal profession are expected to observe in their practice. They are an outgrowth of the development of the legal profession itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barristers in England and Wales</span> One of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales

Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. Barristers have traditionally had the role of handling cases for representation in court, both defence and prosecution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solicitor advocate</span>

Solicitor advocate is a hybrid status which allows a solicitor in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong to represent clients in higher courts in proceedings that were traditionally reserved for barristers. The status does not exist in most other common law jurisdictions where, for the most part, all solicitors have rights of audience in higher courts.

In English law, the cab-rank rule is the obligation of a barrister to accept any work in a field in which they profess themselves competent to practise, at a court at which they normally appear, and at their usual rates. The rule derives its name from the tradition by which a hackney carriage driver at the head of a queue of taxicabs is obliged to take the first passenger requesting a ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar Standards Board</span> British professional ombudsman for barristers

The Bar Standards Board regulates barristers in England and Wales for the public interest.

BPP University Law School is a private, for-profit provider of professional and academic legal education in the United Kingdom and one of the founding schools of BPP University.

The General Council of the Bar, commonly known as the Bar Council, is the representative body for barristers in England and Wales. Established in 1894, the Bar Council is the "approved regulator" of barristers, but discharges its regulatory function to the independent Bar Standards Board. As the lead representative body for barristers in England and Wales, the Bar Council’s work is devoted to ensuring the Bar’s voice is heard, efficiently and effectively, and with the interests of the Bar as its focus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bar of Ireland</span> Irish professional association

The Bar of Ireland is the professional association of barristers for Ireland, with over 2,000 members. It is based in the Law Library, with premises in Dublin and Cork. It is governed by the General Council of the Bar of Ireland, commonly called the Bar Council of Ireland, which was established in 1897. The Council is composed of twenty-five members: twenty who are elected, four co-opted, and the Attorney-General, who holds office ex officio. Every year, ten members are elected for two-year terms; five by senior counsel and five by junior counsel.

BPP University is a private university in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roslyn Atkinson</span> Australian judge

Roslyn Gay Atkinson is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, who served for 20 years from 1998 until her retirement in 2018. In 2002 she also became the Chairperson of the Queensland Law Reform Commission, and served in that role until her retirement in 2013. As well as being responsible for the Yankee Doodles precedent, Justice Atkinson has also made two notable decisions in her capacity as member of the Queensland Legal Practice Tribunal.

Mx is an English-language neologistic honorific that does not indicate gender. Created as an alternative to gendered honorifics in the late 1970s, it is the most common gender-neutral title among non-binary people and people who do not wish to imply a gender in their titles.

Justice Henry George Fryberg was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia.

Nicola Maree Gobbo, sometimes known as Nikki Gobbo, is an Australian former criminal defence barrister and police informant.

Peter Mitchel Andrew Charleton is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since June 2014. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2006 to 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Rinder</span> British barrister and television personality

Robert Michael Rinder, sometimes known as Judge Rinder, is a British criminal barrister and television personality. In 2014, while still a practising barrister, he began hosting the reality courtroom series Judge Rinder. In 2019, he also began hosting the Channel 4 series The Rob Rinder Verdict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Barniville</span> Irish barrister, Court of Appeal judge since 2021

David Barniville is an Irish judge who has served as President of the High Court since July 2022 and a Judge of the High Court since July 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2021. He previously served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2021 to 2022. He is also a former Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland. He is an ex officio member of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.

Allison Elaine Bailey is a retired barrister who specialised in criminal defence law and worked in London, England. Bailey initiated an employment tribunal claim against her legal chambers and Stonewall in 2020. The case has attracted public and media attention, particularly in relation to the Diversity Champions programme. She announced her retirement from the Bar and resignation from her chambers on her website effective 31 March 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "HENRY HENDRON | Bankruptcy Orders". The London Gazette. 16 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Barrister Details - Mr Henry Joseph Christopher Hendron". Bar Standards Board. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lawyer who supplied 'chemsex' party drugs which killed his boyfriend is sentenced". BBC News. 9 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. Telegraph Reporters (9 May 2016). "Celebrity barrister spared jail for supplying 'chemsex' drugs that killed teenage boyfriend". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Man pleads guilty to offences committed while he was working as a barrister". Metropolitan Police. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 Vaughan, Henry (18 March 2023). "Barrister who represented high-profile figures admits buying drugs from clients". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Schoolboy calls for corporal punishment". The Herald. 7 October 1998. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  8. Pickles, Steve; Nikkel, Sarah, eds. (Winter 2014). "Movers & Shakers... Alumni making their mark in Law" (PDF). Higher. No. 20. Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  9. "Top lawyer in court over drug deals after boyfriend's overdose" . The Times. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  10. Ames, Jonathan (2 September 2015). "Rookie criminal barrister, 34, stands as UKIP London mayoral candidate". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  11. "Race Results". Yukon 1000. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  12. Connelly, Thomas (20 June 2017). "Hendron v Hendron: 'Drug addict' barrister evicted from lawyer twin's Covent Garden flat after High Court injunction battle". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  13. Gibb, Frances (20 June 2017). "Chemsex lawyer Henry Hendron and twin brother in court battle". The Times. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  14. McKinney, CJ (15 March 2019). "Drug suspension barrister goes viral after pro-Brexit rant on BBC Question Time". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "The drugs he supplied killed his boyfriend - but he'll be working as a barrister again in three years". Court News UK. 6 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Mills, Jen (9 May 2016). "Celebrity barrister sentenced after supplying drugs that killed teen boyfriend". Metro. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  17. Aldridge, Alex (26 January 2015). "Junior barrister arrested following death of boyfriend in Temple flat". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  18. Duffy, Nick (24 January 2015). "Lawyer arrested after boyfriend dies of suspected drugs overdose". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  19. Connelly, Thomas (8 January 2016). "Junior barrister appears in court over supplying drugs in heart of legal London". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  20. 1 2 Mills, Jen (7 January 2016). "Celebrity lawyer in court for 'dealing drugs' after boyfriend died of an overdose". Metro. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 Connelly, Thomas (23 March 2016). "Junior barrister admits supplying drugs that killed teenage boyfriend at Temple party". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  22. Connelly, Thomas (10 March 2016). "Junior barrister on drugs charges represented by twin brother from same chambers". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  23. Steafel, Eleanor (16 April 2016). "My twin brother's chemsex trial is the hardest legal case of my life". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  24. Connelly, Thomas (9 May 2016). "Junior barrister who admitted supplying drugs that killed teenage boyfriend sentenced to 140 hours unpaid work". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  25. Bolton, Josh (13 June 2023). "Top barrister jailed after asking to buy drugs from criminal clients in Woolwich". News Shopper. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023. Hendron had asked to buy drugs from Smit in September 2021 just weeks before his client was arrested
  26. Jane, William (26 March 2024). "Barrister Who Bought Drugs From Clients Can't Cut Sentence - Law360". Law360. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Walters, Max (6 April 2017). "Tribunal suspends 'chemsex' barrister". Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  28. 1 2 3 "About Us". Law Surgery. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. Dunne, John (29 March 2016). "My boyfriend's chemsex death will stay with me forever, says barrister". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  30. "Lord Sugar loses Apprentice tribunal legal costs bid". BBC News. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  31. "Earl of Cardigan 'tried to sell silver'". BBC News. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Henry Hendron". Strand Chambers. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  33. Duffy, Nick (10 May 2016). "Top barrister loses law license after boyfriend's chemsex drug death". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  34. "Suzanne Evan's fails in High Court challenge over UKIP suspension". The Herald. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  35. Brown, David (15 April 2020). "Lawyer sues 'down and out' aristocrat for £27,000 fee". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  36. Seaward, Tom (14 April 2020). "Wiltshire earl is being sued by his barrister over 'unpaid fees'". Swindon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  37. 1 2 3 Judge John Hack (25 November 2014). "Barrister hit with fine for slagging off MP trial witnesses in blog". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  38. 1 2 Cheston, Paul (11 April 2014). "Nigel Evans' barrister friend jeopardised trial with online blog". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  39. 1 2 Aldridge, Alex (11 April 2014). "Blogging barrister refers himself to the Bar Standards Board after committing 'very serious' contempt of court". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  40. "00971: Henry Hendron" (PDF). Published Finding. The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service. 5 April 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  41. 1 2 Connelly, Thomas (6 April 2017). "Barrister who admitted supplying drugs that killed teenage boyfriend is NOT struck off". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  42. Connelly, Thomas (2 March 2018). "Suspended chemsex junior barrister fined £250 after posting on Facebook that he'd had lunch at Middle Temple". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  43. 1 2 3 Connelly, Thomas (29 July 2019). "Henry Hendron suspended again". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  44. 1 2 3 "High Court overturns barrister's suspension due to "lacuna"". Legal Futures. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  45. 1 2 "Chemsex barrister Henry Hendron suspended again". The Times. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  46. "PC 2017/0263/D3: Henry Hendron" (PDF). Report of Finding and Sanction. The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service. 26 July 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  47. McKinney, CJ (3 June 2020). "Henry Hendron wins appeal against second suspension". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  48. Slingo, Jemma (3 June 2020). "BSB sanction invalid because barrister was already suspended". The Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  49. Hendron v Bar Standards Board [2020] EWHC 1255(Admin) (2 June 2020), High Court of Justice (Administrative Court)
  50. Connelly, Thomas (8 January 2021). "Henry Hendron to appear before disciplinary tribunal - again". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  51. "PC 2017/0467/D5 + PC 2018/0259/D5: Henry Hendron" (PDF). Published Finding. The Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service. 1 June 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  52. Connelly, Thomas (1 June 2021). "Henry Hendron avoids disbarment - again". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  53. "What does this barrister have to do to get struck off?". Court News UK. 27 May 2021. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  54. Judge John Hack (17 October 2014). "Blogging barrister who self-referred to regulator over contempt now standing for Bar Council". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  55. Connelly, Thomas (25 September 2020). "Bar Council rejects Henry Hendron's election nomination after filing application one minute late". Legal Cheek. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  56. Castro, Bianca (5 July 2024). "Barrister who asked clients for drugs disbarred". Law Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  57. Cheek, Legal (5 July 2024). "Henry Hendron disbarred". Legal Cheek. Retrieved 6 July 2024.