A barrister has been fined by a Bar Disciplinary Tribunal for engaging in "wholly inappropriate" sexual conduct with his pupil.

David Giles, who specialises in property law at 1 Gray's Inn Square, was accused of subjecting his pupil, Miss X (not her real name), to unspecified acts "of a sexual nature" between 6 June and 31 August 2012. Ruling that Giles' behaviour was "wholly inappropriate" given his position as Miss X's supervisor, the five person panel found him guilty of professional misconduct and has fined him £4,000.

She just wanted to understand the Leasehold Reform Act.

However no-one seems willing to say just how much bad behaviour a barrister can buy for £4,000. 1 Gray's Inn failed to respond to requests for comment. And while the Bar Standards Board said it would normally answer queries in relation to matters heard at a disciplinary tribunal, "Unusually, this case was ordered to be held in private". It said that it would not disclose any information not already in the public domain because it could identify Miss X.