A London barrister has been disbarred for intentionally misleading his client by drafting false grounds of appeal.

The bar's disciplinary tribunal this week heard that Rabi Sukul, of Balham Chambers, London, drafted a document to the Court of Appeal setting out initial grounds for an appeal against conviction on behalf of his client, L, who had been convicted of drugs-related offences.

The tribunal found he had created the document, knowing it to be false, with the intention of misleading L into believing he had grounds to appeal his conviction, when Sukul knew there were no grounds of appeal.

The five-person tribunal, chaired by His Honour Michael Baker QC, found unanimously that Sukul had intentionally misled his client and engaged in conduct likely to bring the legal profession into disrepute. Sukul was ordered to be disbarred.

The decision is open to appeal.

Sukul was called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn in July 1988.

Head of professional conduct at the Bar Standards Board Sara Down said: 'Our duty as a regulator is, first and foremost, to protect the public and safeguard the client.