The coroner whose improper appointment of his wife led to the inquest into the death of singer Amy Winehouse being reheard has been sanctioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

Dr Andrew Reid, formerly HM Coroner in Inner North London, appointed his wife, solicitor Suzanne Greenaway, as deputy assistant coroner in 2009.

After she had presided over more than 30 inquests over two years, including that of Winehouse, it was discovered that she had not been a qualified legal or medical practitioner for the required five years.

At the time of the Winehouse inquest, Greenaway, who had previously practised in Australia, had been qualified in England for only two years. She resigned in November 2011 and the Winehouse inquest was reheard. It reached an identical verdict of misadventure. 

In December 2012 a review body of the Office for Judicial Complaints recommended that Reid be removed from office, though he had already resigned his coroner post and from a position as a tribunal judge.

The SRA then investigated the matter. It today announced it had found Reid to have breached six rules or principles, most notably failing to act with integrity and allowing his independence to be compromised.

Reid told the SRA he no longer lives in the UK, has no adverse regulatory history and has no intention of practising as a solicitor in the future. By way of sanction, he will remove his name from the roll and has undertaken not to apply to be restored, the SRA said. 

Reid also agreed to pay £495 costs and for the regulatory settlement agreement to be published.