‘Jekyll and Hyde’ barrister who made his girlfriend call him ‘master’ booted out of profession

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By Thomas Connelly on

Family law specialist handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence last July

A promising young barrister has been kicked out of the profession after harassing his now ex-girlfriend and forcing her to call him “master”.

Sanjay Roy, a former family law specialist at Northampton Chambers, pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence by harassment on day one of his trial last July. The Bournemouth University graduate, who was called to the bar in 2011, was handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB), which initially suspended Roy in August, has now made the decision to disbar him. A spokesperson for the regulator said:

A conviction for putting a person in fear of violence is a serious matter. This behaviour is likely to diminish the confidence the public has in Mr Roy and the barrister profession in general. The tribunal’s decision to disbar Mr Roy reflects the nature of his actions.

Last summer, Nottingham Crown Court heard 32-year-old ex-postman Roy met his former girlfriend in 2012 in Houston, Texas. Roy, using his legal prowess, had helped the unnamed woman break free from an abusive partner.

But the couple’s relationship quickly turned sour. The prosecution claimed that Roy was a “Jekyll and Hyde” character who had on one occasion “poured iced water” onto his partner’s head and proceeded to “beat her with a belt buckle”. The court also heard how Roy insisted on being called “master”.

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