Clinton Gadd and ABM Building Services Ltd have been convicted of four counts of the criminal offence of misusing the title ‘architect’
On 16 October 2019 Clinton Gadd and Crawley-based ABM Building Services Ltd, were convicted of four counts of the criminal offence of misusing the title ‘architect’ on the company’s website as well as its Twitter and Google profiles.
Crawley Magistrates’ Court heard that company director Clinton Gadd was carrying out business using the word ‘architect’ despite not being registered as an architect himself or employing someone appropriately registered as an architect.
The Court took into account that Gadd had contacted web designers to remedy the breaches and made an early guilty plea. It also noted that he had been contacted by ARB on several occasions, and that he could have done more to remedy the breaches. The Court imposed a penalty of £6,369 (split between the two defendants) in addition to the criminal conviction.
ARB hopes that criminal convictions, fines and the negative publicity associated with title misuse prosecutions will act as a deterrent for those who may otherwise have used the title illegally.
In regulating misuse of the title ‘architect’ ARB’s objective is to limit the harm as swiftly and effectively as possible. Clinton Gadd and ABM Building Services Ltd will have 28 days to make the necessary changes. ARB will continue to monitor their trading style and take further action as necessary.
