Exeter court fines man for claiming to be an architect

A MAN has been fined for claiming to be an architect.

Malcolm Capstick, 60, said he was a chartered architect on two websites and on promotional literature when he was not registered as one. Capstick, who was trading as the Smart Design Group and Design Care Architects, told a court that he got "no business" from the ventures anyway.

He admitted three offences under the 1997 Architects Act and was fined £2,100 and ordered to pay £5,157 towards court costs.

He was spotted at a self build and design show near Exeter in September 2011 handing out flyers and business cards and later making claims on websites. Capstick, of the Thorn Business Park, Sidmouth, but now living in Bristol, said: "I jumped the gun at the show. We were marketing but not trading. I have a clear conscience. I never pretended to be an architect. I didn't get any business."

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He said he gained no business from his venture and said:  "Things are pretty dire at the moment. I have no property, no car, no money in the bank.

"Last year was the worst year, really dire, I earned £10,000, not a very satisfactory situation. Things are not very good for architects and designers at the moment."

He was ordered to pay off the £7,872 fines and costs at the rate of £250 a month.

Prosecutor Brian Fitzherbert said Capstick was not registered under the Architects Act.