'Playboy' adviser serving prison time banned by FCA

According to a final notice statement published on the FCA's website, the regulator did not consider Bartlett a "fit and proper" person, and as such banned him from regulated activity.

The FCA said his fraud conviction demonstrated a "clear and serious lack of honesty and integrity".

Upon his confession, Bartlett was convicted on indictment of 14 offences of fraud on 28 November 2018. He was then sentenced to serve a term of eight years imprisonment on 21 December 2018.

Bartlett worked at Hereford-based Abacus Associates Financial Services from 2012 to May 2018. The firm was late bought by Tavistock Partners. Over five years while working at the firm he conned 24 victims out of a combined £4.5m. The FCA said there was little chance of any of the money being recovered as Bartlett used the money to fund his lifestyle.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Bartlett spent the money travelling to New York and Russia and "large sums" of money on call girls. The Echo also reported Bartlett was voted one of Vouchedfor.co.uk's top 200 financial advisers in 2013.

At the time of his conviction, judge Alan Conrad said Bartlett had been "maintaining a playboy lifestyle with expensive prostitutes and luxury foreign travel". The final notice said Bartlett did not refer the matter of his ban to the tribunal to reconsider within 28 days, and so he was banned from 8 April.

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