The barrister laying down the law to heavyweights

His current boss — in rugby terms at least — is Tony Spreadbury, who worked as a paramedic in his earlier days refereeing.

“He did an early kick-off in Newport,” says Barnes retelling the tale. “He then had to get on his paramedic kit after that and attended to a chap having a heart attack. The guy looked up struggling for breath and was a little shocked to recognize ‘Spreaders’ from the game, only to have to be resuscitated by him.”