Six years after the City Slickers share-tipping scam, Mr Justice Beatson brought the case to its final stages yesterday, sentencing Anil Bhoyrul, a former financial journalist, to 180 hours of community service. Bhoyrul, 39, earlier had admitted conspiracy to breach the Financial Services Act. His fellow journalist James Hipwell, 39, was found guilty last month of the same charge, but, because he was ill yesterday, will be sentenced at a later date. Terry Shepherd, a private investor, was sentenced to three months in jail.
Mr Justice Beatson was educated at Oxford and Cambridge and lectured in law at Bristol University. He was called to the bar in 1972 and in 2003 was named a judge of the High Court of Justice. Described by a leading commercial barrister as “very nice and fair”, his interests include gardening and travelling. He is married with a daughter.