Guernsey-based chartered accountant Matthew Hart has paid ‘a heavy price’ following his conviction of cannabis production, and possession of both Class B and Class C drugs.
Several years ago, when Hart was staying in Thailand, Police executed a search warrant on suspicion that cannabis was being grown at his Guernsey home. They found four cannabis plants, a quantity of cannabis (with a street value of over £15,000), and prescription drugs Alprazolam and Gabapentin.
When he returned to Guernsey and was interviewed by police Hart admitted to using all three substances for private use. However, said the plants were grown by a lodger.
Hart was found guilty of production of the controlled Class B drug at the Royal Court of the Island of Guernsey, and sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid community service, as an alternative to two-years imprisonment. He also received concurrent sentences of one year’s imprisonment, suspended for two years, for the three drug possession offences. And, Hart was fined £5,000 by the court.
As part of his community sentence, he helped the CEO of a palliative care hospice with budgeting, financial reporting, and other finance related tasks. He continued to volunteer at the hospice after completing his community service.
Hart self-reported to the ICAEW, after being sacked by his firm for his criminal convictions. An ICAEW tribunal committee sat on 1 April this year, and ordered that Hart be excluded from membership and fined £5,342.
