An architect has been struck off the professional register after a tribunal found he made threats of violence against an oral surgeon, a beautician, and their daughter. Joan Beltri was accused of launching a "campaign of harassment, abuse and threats" via email and voicemail towards his clients, Dr. James Escoda-Francoli and Carolina Sampietro, over work on their new clinic in Winchester, Hampshire.
Project Blunders and Escalating Abuse
The relationship between Beltri and his clients, who had moved to the UK from northern Spain, soured after a series of errors. These included Beltri, who described himself as a structural and artificial intelligence engineer, working on a Grade II listed building without the necessary council permission. A significant incident involved Beltri cutting through a gas pipe while performing work for which he was not qualified, creating a dangerous situation that left the pipe open for several hours.
Dr. Escoda-Francoli, a specialist oral surgeon, and Ms. Sampietro, a registered aesthetics nurse, terminated Beltri's contract in November 2024. Following the termination, Beltri allegedly began a period of escalating abuse. Voicemail messages attributed to him included expletive-laden insults and homophobic remarks directed at Dr. Escoda-Francoli. Ms. Sampietro also reported receiving hundreds of emails daily and facing attempts to access her social media accounts.
Threats and Tribunal Ruling
The situation culminated in Beltri allegedly making direct threats of violence. According to tribunal evidence, Beltri told an Architects Registration Board (ARB) official that he would "kill them all. It's what I will do. Their parents, their family, and their children." He also reportedly threatened the couple's daughter.
Beltri, representing himself at the ARB tribunal, denied using abusive or threatening language and rejected the characterization of his conduct as harassment. However, the tribunal accepted the witnesses' accounts, finding the communications deeply distressing. The ruling panel concluded that Beltri's actions constituted a campaign of harassment, abuse, and threats that continued until the ARB instructed solicitors to contact him.
Professional Consequences and Client Impact
The Architects Registration Board (ARB) ultimately decided to strike Beltri off the register. Ms. Sampietro described her experience with Beltri as a "nightmare" and expressed relief that he could no longer practice as an architect in the UK. She noted that the threats had led her to take increased security measures for her family's safety. The couple reported Beltri to the police, and he is currently believed to be living in Spain.