For twelve long years, he was a trusted spiritual leader, a pillar of his community. But behind the pulpit, a shocking secret was unfolding, a deception that would ultimately unravel a man’s career and shake a church to its core.
Naison Hove, 59, a former United Reformed Church (URC) minister, has avoided prison after admitting to a staggering fraud that saw him siphon over £23,000 in church allowances meant for those in need.
A Decade of Deception
The court heard how Hove, who served congregations in London and Sussex, systematically exploited the church’s trust. Between 2010 and 2022, he submitted 13 fraudulent claims for personal expenses, including funds for his children’s school uniforms.
He manipulated the system despite his household income being well above the threshold for such support, taking money intended to help struggling families. The full extent of the “financial irregularities” was only uncovered after a URC internal investigation led to his suspension in 2022.
“Failing To Provide”
When confronted with his actions, Hove’s defence painted a picture of a man crumbling under immense personal pressure.
His legal team claimed he acted out of a deep-seated “shame,” feeling he was failing to provide for his wife and struggling to fulfill what he saw as traditional male roles. The court was told he felt pressured to maintain a certain lifestyle and live up to the expectations placed upon him.
But the prosecution offered a starkly different view.
Prosecutor Rebecca Dix argued this was no desperate mistake. She told the court Hove’s offending “deliberately” targeted a “weakness in the processes of the church,” suggesting a calculated abuse of his trusted position over many years.
A Church Reeling, A Suspended Sentence
At Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday, Hove was handed a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud. He will not serve immediate jail time.
He was formally removed from his role as a minister in January of this year.
In a powerful statement, the United Reformed Church addressed the betrayal:
“Dismissing a Minister from the Roll of Ministers is a significant action which is taken very seriously by the Church. It is not a decision that is reached lightly, and all those affected by his actions are in our thoughts and prayers.”
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