A solicitor has been struck off the roll for headbutting a fellow coach at a boys' rugby game.

Gavin Dowell, a solicitor at Harrison Clark Rickerbys when the incident occurred, coached the Old Bristolians under-16 rugby team. During a match in 2014 Dowell believed that his son was assaulted by another player. When play continued Dowell confronted the referee saying that he would "fucking sort it". Fellow coach Mark Scoble tried to intervene and repeatedly told Dowell to calm down. But the red mist descended and Dowell headbutted peacemaker Scoble, knocking him out, in front of both their children.

The pair were friends at the time, but presumably not now, as Scoble was left with life-changing injuries. He had a detached retina, and has lost over 60% vision in his left eye, requiring numerous operations. He also suffers from severe headaches, nausea and trouble sleeping as a result of the attack.
 

All the guys

The crown court convicted Dowell in 2016 for GBH and ordered that he pay £10,000 in compensation to Scoble. The matter has now been brought before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal heard that Dowell had not informed the SRA about the conviction, as required, and the regulator was only made aware of the conviction in the press.

Dowell accepted that his conviction made him "wholly unfit" to remain on the roll. The tribunal also upheld two allegations of dishonesty against Dowell in relation to his work as a solicitor. The tribunal struck Dowell from the roll and ordered to pay over £9,000 in costs. 

He is not the only solicitor to favour the Glaswegian kiss over a reasoned discussion.