An architect has been struck off the professional register for a minimum of two years after being found guilty of leaving a trail of negative online reviews under made-up names for businesses he had connections with.

Three people who complained about reviews left by Andrew Guy of Hampshire-based Besprak Architecture & Interiors were from architecture firms he had previously been involved with. Two women had been in personal relationships with him and the others were lettings agencies Guy also had dealings with.

The Arb’s disciplinary panel, the Professional Conduct Committee, acknowledged the complaints did not relate to the quality of Guy’s work as an architect. But it said the “deliberate and dishonest posting of false reviews across a range of businesses would be considered deplorable by both fellow members of the profession and members of the public”.

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