The former head of the Criminal Bar Association has reportedly been accused of sexually harassing four young women.
Navjot ‘Jo’ Sidhu, who previously led thousands of barristers on strike during a row over legal aid rates with the Tory government, is alleged to have behaved inappropriately with the complainants, all of whom are said to be young lawyers.
The top lawyer, who who was once in the running to become the head of the Crown Prosecution Service and strenuously denies the claims, is now reportedly facing a misconduct investigation by the governing body, The Times reports.
It could mean that Sidhu may face sanctions from the regulator if the claims are found proven at a tribunal.
The 58-year-old, who had been a barrister since 1993, gave up his certificate to practise earlier this year. No reason was given as to why, but reports he had been suspended were denied by the governing body.
Navjot ‘Jo’ Sidhu has been accused of sexually harassing four young women. Pictured: Sidhu outside the Old Bailey in July 2022 after leading thousands of barristers on strike during a row over legal aid rates with the Tory government
The top lawyer, who is the former head of the Criminal Barrister Association, strenuously denies the claims. Pictured: Sidhu speaking in the Houses of Parliament
It is claimed that the accusations against Sidhu were first made more than two years ago to the Bar Council’s ‘anti-harassment and bullying’ hotline, Talk to Spot.
The Times reports that officials at the body, which represents barristers in England and Wales, then passed these onto the Bar Standards Board, which regulates the profession.
The law firm Brett Wilson LLP, which specialises in media and litigation, is representing him but told MailOnline that neither they or Mr Sidhu would comment on the claims.
It was revealed in July that his name had been removed from the BSB’s list of practising barristers, while his name was also deleted from the website of his chambers, No5.
No5 claimed that he had ‘relinquished his practising certificate and is no longer practising at as barrister’.
Reports he had been suspended from practising, have been denied by the Bar Standards Board.
It told the Law Gazette: ‘Mr Sidhu has not been suspended from practice but is currently an unregistered barrister and does not have a practising certificate. He does not therefore appear on the barristers register.’
Sidhu had his name removed from the list of practising barristers earlier this year. Pictured: Sidhu outside the Old Bailey during the barrister’s strikes in June 2022
Hailing from Southall in West London, Sidhu studied PPE at Oxford before taking a law conversion degree and practising criminal law.
He is believed to have previously been in the running to become the Director of Public Prosecutions, having interviewed for the role before it was given to Max Hill KC.
As head of the Criminal Bar Association two yeas ago, he led thousands of barristers on strike during a bitter feud with the Conservative government over legal aid rates.
The walkout caused the court system to grind to a halt and added to the already lengthy backlog of cases.
MailOnline has contacted the Criminal Bar Association, the Bar Council, the Bar Standards Board, The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service and No5 Barristers Chambers for comment.