An architect has been struck off the professional register after engaging in a campaign of harassment and threats against clients whose new clinic he was building, and for carrying out unqualified and dangerous work. Joan Beltri was found to have threatened the daughter of an oral surgeon and an aesthetics practitioner after disputes arose over plans for their clinic in Winchester, Hampshire.
Beltri, who described himself as a structural and artificial intelligence engineer, failed to obtain necessary permissions from the local council for work on the Grade II listed building. During the project, he also cut through a gas pipe, an action for which he was not qualified, leading to a gas leak.
The clients, Dr. James Escoda-Francoli, an oral surgeon, and Carolina Sampietro, an aesthetics practitioner, ended Beltri's contract in November 2024 and subsequently reported him to the Architects Registration Board (ARB). Following this, Beltri initiated a series of abusive emails and voicemail messages.
During the ARB tribunal hearing, it was revealed that Beltri made threats including, "I will kill them all. It's what I will do. Their parents, their family, and their children." He also directed insults at Dr. Escoda-Francoli, questioning his wife's fidelity and making homophobic remarks.
Mrs. Sampietro described the experience as a "nightmare," recounting instances where Beltri lied about subcontracting electrical work and proceeded with it himself. The cutting of the gas pipe was a significant safety concern, especially as people lived in an apartment above the construction site. Beltri sent Mrs. Sampietro a photograph of the cut pipe, prompting her to immediately call an engineer who deemed the situation highly dangerous.
Despite the tribunal's findings, Beltri maintained he did not use abusive or threatening language and did not accept the characterization of his conduct as harassment. He represented himself at the hearing.
The ARB tribunal concluded that Beltri's actions constituted a "campaign of harassment, abuse and threats" from April until August 2025. The ruling panel found the communications deeply distressing for the witnesses. The decision to strike him off was made to prevent him from undertaking such work and to offer some peace of mind to the affected clients.
Dr. Escoda-Francoli and Mrs. Sampietro, who moved to the UK from Spain in 2016, were planning to open their aesthetic clinic in Winchester in October. Mrs. Sampietro stated that she still receives unwanted communications from Beltri, who is currently residing in Spain. She has implemented additional security measures at her home due to his threats towards her and their five-year-old daughter.
Beltri first registered as an architect in the UK in 2010. The tribunal's ruling ensures he can no longer practice as an architect in the UK, providing a measure of resolution for the couple who endured months of harassment and dangerous construction practices.