A Norwich-based architect has been struck off the professional register for at least two years following a disciplinary case involving a prolonged dispute with her neighbours in Norwich, Norfolk.
Dr Karin Reenie Elliott was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct after making misleading and dishonest allegations against her neighbours. The dispute also involved comparisons to Nazi persecution, Donald Trump's proposed border wall, and claims of racial harassment and gender violence.
🚨 NEW: Architect living in Norwich struck off over unfounded claims of racism and "gender violence" against neighbours who flew British flags and watched England football games.
— The Mercian (@TheMercianNews) October 25, 2026
• Dr Karin Elliott, an Irish-American architect based in Norwich, has been removed from the… pic.twitter.com/C7mm3zZxFV
Dispute Over Neighbours' Carport
According to The Times, Elliott had previously received a £2,000 ($2,600) penalty order in 2021. The penalty followed her accusation that neighbours were building what she described as 'Nazi concentration camps' after demolishing a garden wall to construct a carport.
The newspaper reported that Elliott sent her neighbours several text messages referencing Nazi Germany and Jewish persecution. In one message, she wrote: 'We are not in 1930s Germany, we are not Jewish, we don't wear yellow stars and you won't crush us.'
She also stated: 'The Nazis didn't get away with it and neither will you.'
Earlier disciplinary proceedings also found further instances of unacceptable professional conduct by Elliott. These included offensive references to her neighbours' physical characteristics and mental health.
Trump Wall Comparison
The dispute persisted over the following years, with Elliott making further allegations against three neighbours in correspondence regarding a CCTV planning application.
In December 2023, she applied to install cameras around her Grade II-listed property and, in February 2024, circulated a letter to residents seeking support for the proposal.
According to reports, Elliott accused one neighbour of threatening 'to hit one of us over the head with a hammer' and attempting to build a wall on her property. She connected the alleged construction to Donald Trump's pledge to build a wall along the US–Mexico border.
In the letter, she wrote: 'He had been starting to build a wall on our property illegally on a Sunday, following Trump's declaration that he would "build a big wall" to keep out immigrants. It is very upsetting. We are Irish/American and French.'
She further alleged that neighbours demolished historic walls, removed trees, and carried out construction on her property without consent. However, the tribunal found her accusations misleading and dishonest.
Architect struck off after calling neighbour racist for cheering on England is 'malicious and vindictive' and 'made things up', victims say https://t.co/qjOgFrmahR
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) October 27, 2026
Car Described as Phallic Symbol
Elliott also alleged that a neighbour repeatedly drove a white Nissan Navara pickup truck across her driveway.
During cross-examination, she argued that, from 'a psychoanalytic perspective,' the vehicle represented a 'phallic symbol' and that its use amounted to gender violence.
Elliott accused another of racial harassment over the use of a chainsaw. In a March 2024 submission to Norwich City Council's planning portal, she wrote: 'I begged him to turn off his chainsaw and explained that I considered it to be racial harassment.'
She also alleged a neighbour was singing the Bee Gees' Tragedy from a balcony after her father's death.
Partner's Racism Claims
Elliott's partner, Francois Girardin, also gave evidence. He acknowledged that although none of the neighbours had said 'anything directly racist,' he and Elliott inferred racism from their behaviour. Girardin added that neighbours occasionally displayed a Union Jack and cheered for England during sporting events, particularly when teams played France.
One neighbour told the tribunal that the allegations caused them significant embarrassment and discomfort. Another described the situation as upsetting and said they avoided their garden because Elliott and her partner frequently watched them.
Two-Year Professional Ban
The Architects Registration Board found Elliott guilty of unacceptable professional conduct in her communications. Subsequently, the board ordered her removal from the professional register for at least two years.
The tribunal criticised her for making misleading and potentially damaging allegations against neighbours without adequate regard for accuracy. It also considered her disciplinary history and limited insight into her conduct when determining the sanction.
Although the sanction prevents her from practising as a registered architect during the removal period, she can apply for reinstatement after two years, subject to a further assessment.
