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Mr Paul Zara

THE ARCHITECTS REGISTRATION BOARD

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT COMMITTEE

In the matter of

PAUL ZARA (053183I)

_______________

Present:

Margaret Obi (Chair)
Robert Dearman (PCC Architect Member)
Jules Griffiths (PCC Lay Member)

_______________

 

In respect of the charges against PAUL ZARA (“the Registered Person”)

The Registered Person:

a. accepts the facts and matters set out below and consents to the Consent Order Panel of the Professional Conduct Committee making a disciplinary order against him in the terms set out below; and

b. confirms that he has been offered the opportunity to appear before a Hearing Panel of the Professional Conduct Committee to present his case, but has foregone his right to do so; and

 

The Architects Registration Board accepts the facts and matters set out below and consents to the Professional Conduct Committee making a disciplinary order against the Registered Person in the terms set out below.

 

The Allegation

The allegation made against Paul Zara (“the Registered Person”) is that:

 

1. He has been convicted of a criminal offence other than an offence which has no material relevance to his fitness to practice as an architect, in that he was convicted on 11 January 2024 of:

 

Offence 1

Between 09/05/2019 and 12/06/2019 at an address, distributed an indecent photograph, namely, a Category A moving image of a child, contrary to sections.

1(1)(b) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.

 

Offence 2,

Between 09/05/2019 and 12/06/2019 at an address, distributed an indecent photograph, namely, a Category B Moving image of a child, contrary to sections.

1(1)(b) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.

 

Offence 3

On or before the 21/03/2023 at an address, made indecent photographs, namely 39 Category A Moving Images of children, contrary to sections 1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.

 

Offence 4

On 21/03/23 at an address you made indecent photographs, namely, 7 Category B images of children, of which 2 are moving images, contrary to sections.

1(1)(a) and 6 of the Protection of Children Act 1978.

 

Offence 5

On or before 21/03/23 at an address, you were in possession of 74 prohibited images of children of which 2 were moving images, contrary to sections 62(1) and

66(2) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

 

Statements of Agreed Facts

 

  1. The Registered Person is a registered architect.

 

  1. On 11 January 2024, the Registered Person was convicted, following admissions, at Brighton Magistrates’ Court of the offences detailed in the allegation above.

 

  1. The matter arose when Sussex Police were investigating another male (Person A). Upon arresting Person A in respect of distribution of indecent images, Person A’s devices were seized and examined; that resulted in officers identifying, via a WhatsApp conversation, that the Registered Person had sent and received indecent Images.

 

  1. The Registered Person’s devices were found to contain indecent images of children who were identified as aged between 1 and 12. In addition to images, there were exchanges of messages between the Registered Person and Person A.

 

  1. The Registered Person was sentenced on 8 February 2024 at the Crown Court sitting at Chichester to a 16-month term of imprisonment, suspended for a period of 2 years. The Suspended Sentence Order required the Registered Person to participate in a 15-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement by the end of the supervision period, being 8 February 2026. Further, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order was made against the Registered Person for a period of 10 years and a Forfeiture and Destruction Order was made with respect to various electronic devices belonging to him.

 

Admissions

 

  1. The Registered Person admits that he has been convicted of a criminal offence other than an offence which has no material relevance to his fitness to practice as an architect. The allegation, as set out above, is admitted in full.

 

Disciplinary Order

 

  1. Section Architects Act 1997 states that the Professional Conduct Committee may make a disciplinary order in relation to a Registered Person who “has been convicted of a criminal offence other than an offence which has no material relevance to his fitness to practice as an architect. “

 

  1. The Consent Order Panel of the Professional Conduct Committee, with the consent of the parties and having taken account of its responsibilities to protect the public and maintain the reputation of the profession, makes the following disciplinary order:

 

  1. In all of the circumstances, the Registered Person agrees to a disciplinary order of Erasure.

 

  1. The Registered Person has no previous disciplinary history. He has engaged in the regulatory process and has admitted the allegation in full.

 

  1. The admitted allegation has the potential to diminish both the Registered Person’s reputation and that of the profession generally and therefore the parties agree that the Registered Person’s conduct is sufficiently serious to require the imposition of a disciplinary order. In light of the very serious nature of the convictions the parties agree that the imposition of an Erasure order is an appropriate and proportionate disciplinary order to impose.