WINCHESTER barrister Jonathan Simpson has been allowed to keep his career after he was suspended for just 12 months by his professional body.

Simpson and his wife Katherine were convicted in June of stalking involving serious alarm or distress. The victim cannot be named for legal reasons.

The trial heard that his co-accused, his wife Katherine, described the mistress as a “chavvy woman from Southampton with fake boobs” and labelled her boyfriend a “thug” who should be kept in a cage.

The pair sent lurid letters to the woman despite police warnings to stop.

The 18-month affair had started after a chance meeting in Southampton’s Apple Store.

The Bar Standards Board yesterday had to decide if Simpson should be struck off from being a barrister.

Stuart Sampson, for the board, said: “Mr Simpson was called to the Bar in 1993. He is of previous good character. On June 24, he reported himself to the Bar Council that he had been recently convicted after trial for stalking involving serious alarm or distress.”

Mr Sampson said it was “quite clear it had an adverse effect on the lady in question.”

Ian Stern, QC, representing Simpson, said he felt a “deep sense of shame, remorse and sorrow". Prior to these events, Mr Simpson practised for about 20 years at the Bar.

Mr Stern drew attention to sentencing judge’s comment that Simpson was mentally unwell and came about as a result of distorted thinking.

He said the restraining order imposed in December 2014 "caused real anger in both Mr and Mrs Simpson", both of Clifton Terrace, Winchester, who then focused themselves on getting the restraining order lifted.

“That is what the purpose of these letters was. That was obviously misguided, wrong and foolish, but this was his state of mind at the time.”

He added that Simpson and his wife’s financial situation was desperate.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, the barrister has been writing an autobiography entitled Confessions of a Criminal Barrister: Lifting the Lid.

Mr Rylance asked if Simpson still intended to publish a book.

Mr Stern said: “It was done as a therapeutic exercise. That was intended for private use and will remain private.”

The panel also heard Mr Simpson’s wife Katherine, a property lawyer, who was convicted alongside her husband in June, faces a disciplinary hearing at the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in February.

Simpson, who was present and represented, admitted one count of professional misconduct.

He was suspended from practice for 12 months, reduced from 18 months as he admitted the charge, self-reported to the BSB and demonstrated remorse.

At crown court in June Simpson was handed a six-month sentence suspended for 12 months as well as a year-long restraining order and a 12-month mental health treatment requirement.

His wife received a 12-month restraining order and made subject of a curfew for a year which means she must stay at home between 10pm and 6.30am on weekdays and between 7pm and 6am on Saturdays and Sundays.