// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Brand's barrister refers himself to regulator after report he confronted journalist
Ian Winter, left in this court sketch, reportedly verbally clashed with a reporter who had previously investigated his client
Russell Brand's defence barrister has referred himself to the regulator after reports that he confronted a Sunday Times journalist who was involved in a media investigation into Brand in 2023.
In a Times and Sunday Times podcast on Thursday, Rosamund Urwin said she introduced herself to Ian Winter KC outside court after verdicts were delivered.
She claimed he responded with a "snarl" and said "I hope you're pleased with yourself".
"Apparently I said, but I can't actually remember this but I've read it in reporting, 'I am pleased that justice has been done'", Urwin added.
In a statement, Winter said the "ways matters have been characterised" in the media meant they should be "subject to proper scrutiny".
The journalist claimed that Winter also said to her "well it wasn't you" and swore at her.
On Friday, Winter said he considered his professional duty required him to self-report the allegations to the Bar Standards Board.
The Bar Standards Board regulates barristers in England and Wales in the public interest.
In a statement, Winter said: "Having seen the ways matters have been characterised in today's press I consider my professional duty requires me to self-report those allegations to the Bar Standards Board, so the matter can be subject to proper scrutiny. I have made such a report."