Adviser to family court suspended

A former Cardiff family court adviser has become the first practitioner in Wales to be suspended from the country’s register.

Michael Haydn Richards was suspended for 12 months after being found guilty of misconduct, the Care Council for Wales announced this week.

A conduct committee found he had failed in his duty as a children’s guardian and had made false statements under oath.

It added that he had made derogatory and unprofessional remarks about a social worker.

Richards has the right to appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal against the decision, which followed a four day hearing.