Lawyer jailed for sexual assault

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7982261.stm

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A solicitor who indecently assaulted a 14-year-old boy in leisure centre changing rooms has been jailed for three years at Belfast Crown Court.

Thomas Reynolds, 36, of Beechlawn Avenue in Dunmurry, was also found guilty of incitement to gross indecency and committing gross indecency.

The judge told the married father-of-two he had "behaved like a predator".

He said Reynolds' denials of wrongdoing made it worse as his vulnerable victim had to face cross-examination in court.

The trial jury heard the offences related to an incident at Falls Road Leisure Centre in June 2007.

The court heard that since the incident, the boy has shown symptoms of post-traumatic stress and panic attacks.

A defence lawyer told the court that Reynolds' career and reputation had been "shattered" as a result of his convictions, adding that professionally he had "paid the highest price imaginable".

Sentencing Reynolds, the judge told him: "You obviously had no consideration for anyone apart from yourself."

Reynolds was also put on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.