KEVIN FARQUHARSON AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRISTOL
A barrister named Kevin Farquharson, aged 45, has faced serious professional consequences after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a colleague during a night out in Bristol.The incident, which took place in September 2019, has garnered attention not only for its disturbing nature but also for the subsequent disciplinary actions taken against him.
According to the findings presented by the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service, Farquharson engaged in unwelcome and inappropriate physical contact with a female colleague, referred to only as A.
During their evening at Kongs bar in Bristol city centre, he repeatedly groped her breasts and buttocks while on the dance floor.
The situation escalated when Farquharson physically held her arms by her sides and demanded she kiss him, despite her clear verbal protest asking, 'What the f*** are you doing?' She made it known that he refused to cease his inappropriate behavior.
The victim's ordeal was compounded further when Farquharson's conduct failed to stop despite her objections.
After the incident, Farquharson eventually left the venue and returned home at around 4am.
However, his partner confronted him upon his arrival, furious and demanding an explanation for his actions.
The emotional turmoil was evident in the aftermath, with the victim seeking to distance herself from the situation.
Farquharson’s misconduct was not limited to the dance floor.
The tribunal revealed that he later sent a text message to a second colleague, asking her to tell his fiancée that he was with her after his night out, specifically suggesting she report that he had lost sight of his group around 1:45 am and had a confrontation with a bouncer.
The message read: 'Would you help me by responding to my text tomorrow by simply stating, We lost sight of you at about 1:45.
You left after you had a run in with one of the bouncers.
I hope you are feeling OK.' The victim only managed to physically escape Farquharson’s persistent advances thanks to intervention from staff at Kongs bar, who stepped in to assist and had him removed from the premises that night.
Her safety was temporarily protected when she was advised by bartenders to take refuge in the female toilets as security personnel intervened.
The severity and nature of Farquharson’s actions led to a formal legal process.
In March 2021, he was convicted of sexual assault and received a sentence of six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
As part of his punishment, he was ordered to pay the victim £1,800 in damages and was placed on the sexual offenders register for seven years.
Representing the Bar Standards Board, Mark Ruffell described the case as deeply regrettable.
He emphasized the professional and personal friendship that existed between Farquharson and the victim, noting that they were colleagues who often interacted in a professional setting.
Ruffell explained that the situation was exacerbated by intoxication, which contributed to the inappropriate conduct.
He detailed that Farquharson went as far as touching the victim’s vaginal area over her clothes near the bar, forcing her to struggle free.
The tribunal, presided over by Judge Witold Pawlak, concluded that all charges against Farquharson were proven beyond doubt.
As a result, he was disbarred from practicing law, and ordered to pay costs amounting to £2,100.
The case underscores the serious repercussions of sexual misconduct, even among professional peers in social settings, and highlights the importance of holding offenders accountable.
