An architect has been jailed for his part in an elaborate scam to cheat the taxman involving a bogus film and D-grade actors
More from: Bogus architect slapped with £1,000 fine
Ian Sherwood, formerly a director of Manchester-based DS Hattrel One, was locked up for three and a half years alongside other co-conspirators for his involvement in the ‘making’ of £20 million gangster movie A Landscape of Lies.
Described by Southwark Crown Court as an ‘entirely bogus film project’, the court heard how the gang attempted to fraudulently claim £2.7million in tax breaks, managing to receive £796,000 of public money by setting up a series of fake companies – none of which was ever recovered.
Sherwood was sentenced alongside plot mastermind Bashar Al Issa. A disgraced former property developer, Issa fronted BS Construction the firm behind Salford high-rise scheme Canopus Greengate (20 Dec 2007). Designed by Manchester-based Arca,the scheme was finally ditched and Issa firm went into administration in 2008 owing £44.5million.
DS Hattrell One director Kenneth Jones told the AJ that the firm had severed connections with Sherwood: ‘The guy has been convicted, he is no longer at the practice.’
Simon Howard, professional standards manager at ARB, said: ‘Generally speaking, convicted architects are referred to the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) and it would be up to the committee to decide if Sherwood would be struck off in a process ‘that could take months.’
-
ARB hits bogus architect with £1,000 fine
-
Bogus architect hit for £7,000 by ARB
-
Architect jailed for role in bogus film fraud
You might also like...
IMAX cinema and 12-year-old British Library addition among at-risk buildings
Two buildings completed in the past two decades have been named among the UK’s most valued endangered modern structures
Pascall+Watson’s revenue and profit soar
Pascall+Watson grew its turnover by more than a third last year, its latest accounts have revealed
Obituary: Peter Collymore (1929–2019)
Bob Allies remembers Peter Collymore, a former colleague and the architect employed by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears for works to the Red House in Aldeburgh, who has died aged 89
Public Practice: how is the initiative to shake up planning departments faring one year on?
The pioneering social enterprise offering placements at local councils is set to expand across the UK – and architects are applying in droves. Ella Jessel finds out why it has struck such a chord. Photography Anthony Coleman
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions.
Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.