Barrister who headbutted colleague can still practise

A SENIOR barrister who butted a female colleague during a drunken argument has avoided being struck off.

Rashid Ahmed, an immigration law specialist and deputy head of his chambers, admitted assaulting a junior lawyer in King’s Road, west London, in 2018.

Westminster magistrates heard how Ahmed had been out for a meal with the woman when an alcohol-fuelled argument got out of control.

Ahmed was accused of throwing water and an ashtray at his colleague before pushing her against a parked car and butting her, leaving her on the floor, covered in blood. The court heard how Ahmed was still being restrained by onlookers while his victim lay on the pavement.

In 2018 he was given an eight-week suspended jail sentence but on appeal this was reduced to a community order. Appearing before a Bar disciplinary tribunal, Ahmed admitted a single charge of professional misconduct.

The tribunal was told what had started as a drunken argument flared into violence, with Ahmed arguing the assault occurred in the “heat of the moment”.

His lawyers said the incident was completely out of character and he had shown genuine remorse.

The tribunal suspended him for three months.

A spokesman for The Bar Standards Board denied the tribunal’s decision was too lenient.

A spokesman said: “Being convicted of any form of assault is a serious matter for barristers and the tribunal’s decision to suspend Mr Ahmed from practice reflects this.”