Architect struck off after conviction for indecent images of children

Paul Zara, now 63, w، left as a director of the leading London-based practice in 2020, pleaded guilty to five offences at Brighton Magistrates’ Court in January and was sentenced on 8 February 2024 at the Crown Court sitting at Chichester.

He was given a 16 months jail sentence, suspended for two years.

The offences, committed between May 2019 and March 2023, included distributing more than 30 category A indecent moving images of children contrary to the Protection of Children Act 1978, seven category B images and 74 prohibited images of children contrary to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

According to the ARB’s professional conduct committee, Zara had been caught while Sus، Police were investigating another man in respect of distribution of child ،ography. After his arrest, his devices were seized and examined, whereupon officers identified, via a WhatsApp conversation, that Zara had sent and received indecent images.

The architect’s own devices were found to contain indecent images of children, identified as aged between one and 12, and exchanges of messages between the two men.

The order required Zara to attend a 15-day rehabilitation activity course before 8 February 2026. Further, a ،ual harm prevention order was made a،nst the architect for a period of 10 years and a forfeiture and destruction order was made with respect to various electronic devices belonging to him, namely an Apple Mac Airbook, Apple Computer and a silver Conran USB.

The ARB’s professional conduct committee stated that Zara had no previous disciplinary history, had engaged in the regulatory process and had admitted the allegations in full.

He had also agreed to a disciplinary order of erasure.

A spokesperson for Conran and Partners confirmed that Zara had left the practice in 2020 ‘at which point he ceased to be a director or have any further involvement in the practice’.

They added: ‘We have no comment to make on what has happened since then.’