Mr Stephen Love
Wootton under Edge
Gloucestershire
GL12 8BT 

Complaint

The complaint was that Mr Love was liable to disciplinary action under the IFA’s bye-laws. Bye-law 13.1 states that a member shall be liable to disciplinary action if (a) they, in the course of carrying out their professional duties or otherwise, have been guilty of misconduct. Under bye-law 13.2(b) the fact that a Member has, before a court of competent jurisdiction in the United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to or been found guilty of any offence discreditable to them, or to the Institute or the accountancy profession, shall be conclusive proof of misconduct. 

Background

The nature of the allegation was that Mr Love was convicted, on his own admission, of fraudulent evasion of VAT at Yeovil Magistrates Court on 12 July 2017. He was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 4 August 2017 to two years and three months in jail. 

Conclusion

The committee ordered that Mr Love be expelled from membership of the IFA and pay costs of £4841.