Mark Horsey, a landlord who has been convicted of voyeurism, has now been banned from continuing to work in the financial services industry.
The ban has been announced by the Financial Conduct Authority which says: “The FCA expects high standards of character, probity and fitness and properness from those who operate in the financial services industry and will take action to ensure these standards are maintained.”
Horsey was the sole director and shareholder of an authorised financial advice firm.
Back in September 2018 he was convicted of voyeurism under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
According to the FCA announcement: “Horsey had surreptitiously observed and video recorded his tenant having a shower without their consent. He committed the offence whilst he was an approved person. Horsey was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity, and required to sign the sex offenders register.”
Media reports at the time of his court case in Guildford stated that he advertised only for female tenants and issued them with instructions, posted on the bathroom wall, about how to shower.
The Surrey Live website, reporting on the court case at the time, said: “He angled mirrors in the bathroom to give him a better view of the tenant washing and would stand on a ladder in his office to film through a window above the door, into the bathroom.”
The location of his office in his semi-detached house gave him line of sight to the bathroom through the skylight of one door, inadequately covered by an ill-fitting blind.
A victim statement read out in court at the time from an unnamed victim of Horsey said: "It makes me feel like I have done something wrong, I know I should not feel like that. This is a horrible thing that has happened, I had a significant gut feeling that something was unsettling with his nature.”
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And why is this article the number 1 top story today? What point is Landlord Today trying to make? Has Landlord Today become a downmarket tabloid, with nice juicy stories? Come on, LT, you can do better ........
Horsey was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months, required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity, and required to sign the sex offenders register.”
I totally agree with David Wirth. I expect better from LT.
This incident was just a case of a sad loser using tenants for inappropriate activities.
Personally I just prefer to see the money roll in every month.
My preference as a good LL is to have no contact with any of my occupants.
But inevitably this will need to occur though I try to keep such contact to the minimum.
I find WhatsApp works very well.
I can get most issues managed using that form of contact.
My occupants know I'm available 24/7.
I respond even in the small hours.
I encourage ALL my occupants to contact me at anytime regarding any concerns etc they may have.
That could be 4 in the morning when the electricity cuts off or late at night.
I operate anytime and anywhere I am.
This criminal loser should be banned from being a LL.
But UNFORTUNATELY we don't have effective LL Licensing for ALL LL..............................yet!
How on earth is a licence going to stop voyeurism? Will the licence contain some sort of magic?
Yes I know the licencing people might stop them being a landlord but that would be too late for the original offence.
Surely shining a light on landlords who do bad things is just as important as supporting those who do good? It is a bit tabloid-y, but it's certainly newsworthy and I for one am glad this man has been banned from operating in the financial services industry.
Also shows the importance of effective regulation. It won't completely reduce the chances of someone like Horsey operating in the PRS - unfortunately eradicating rogues or criminals completely is never going to happen - but it would put many more barriers in his way.
If a LL cannot pass a criminal check as should be required by an effective National LL licensing system then should that LL be permitted to be a LL!!?
I think NOT!
Another pervert there's been many of them over the years. I can't see whats wrong with all Female House I had one like that for 30 years which happened to start off that way and that's the way it continued it just rotated like that. Many were young women and when their mothers came to find accommodation for their daughters were delighted with this. I am not saying they didn't have any boy friends there were 2 marriages from the House but the guys were not my Tenants. I know its a bit different now we are even afraid to discuss for fear of offending someone, some people are so confused they don't know what gender they are.
I have often had single sex tenants. Usually the girls gave the property back in good condition, but not always.
On the other hand, I've never had a broken washing machine in a property only occupied by guys - and the machines have usually been in pristine condition when the guys left. The bathroom and kitchen lino and fittings on the other hand!!!!!!
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