Bent Zimbabwean priest walks free after he blames a ‘cultural aspect’ for nicking £23k

A Zimbabwean priest who swindled his church by claiming over £23,000 in bogus allowances has walked free after a court heard there was a ‘cultural aspect’ to his offending.

Naison Hove, 59, made thirteen false claims for £22,494 in supplementary allowance from 2010 to 2022 from the United Reform Church – despite receiving rental income from a property he owned with his wife.

The former reverend was given the money despite his total household income ‘very significantly’ exceeding the church’s threshold for a supplementary allowance.

He also made several fraudulent claims for costs concerning his children’s school uniform from 2009 to 2012.

Born in Zimbabwe, Hove was ordained as a minister at the United Reformed Church in 2001 and ministered to several congregations in London and Sussex until his suspension in 2022.

He was formally removed from his role in August 2025 following the church’s discovery of £23,044 in ‘financial irregularities’.

Hove pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position at a plea and trial preparation hearing in July 2025 at Wood Green Crown Court.

Wearing a smart black blazer and shirt and dark trousers, Hove appeared at the same court today (weds) to be sentenced.

Prosecutor Rebecca Dix said the ‘outstanding amount in compensation asked for and sought for by the crown is £21,544.’

She argued that Hove’s offending was aggravated ‘in relation to deliberately targeting victims on a basis of vulnerability, given there is a weakness in the processes of the church, which they are rectifying.’

Michael Williams, defending Hove, asked the court to consider his client’s ‘genuine remorse, lack of previous convictions and previous positive good character.

‘He was born in a village in Zimbabwe in rural poverty at a time Zimbabwe was undergoing change from colonial rule.

‘He knows the bad he has done and has accepted that through his pleas, but I ask you to consider the good that sits uneasily with that at the same time.

‘Throughout his time in the ministry in this country he has been an effective church leader and has diligently served – other than this fraud – the communities he has been asked to represent.’

Mr Williams said there was a ‘cultural aspect’ to Hove’s offending.

‘He’s ashamed of being a man and not providing enough support his wife, they had separate incomes – he felt that he wasn’t living up to his societal expectations in that position given his income’, the barrister said.

He said that the fraud ‘weighs heavily’ on Hove and told how a suspended sentence would allow him to ‘rebuild a life shattered by his own criminality.’

Recorder Jenni Dempster KC said: ‘You were an ordained minister at the United Reformed Church between 2001 until 2022 when you were suspended from your role because the church had begun a disciplinary process and discovering financial irregularities.

‘In August of this year, just last month, you were formally removed from your role.

‘You were receiving your salary from the church and at the time of these offences you were living with your wife and children.

‘You had two children and that allowed you to make applications for further financial support from the church, and those applications could be made in respect of two different things.

‘You were first entitled to make applications for grants for your children’s school uniform and you did that, on the crown’s case, twice between 2009 and 2012.

‘Secondly, and more significantly, you were entitled to make applications for supplementary income, but only provided your household income did not exceed a certain amount – and you made those applications on 13 occasions between 2010 and 2022.

‘It is beyond any doubt that certainly during the last few years of your offending, your household income was very significantly in excess of the prescribed financial threshold.

‘In later years you were also receiving rental income for a property that you let out from 2019 and this only became apparent when the police received your bank statements and noticed that.

‘By your guilty pleas you accept that your behaviour was dishonest and given your personal circumstances and your living arrangements, I am sure you must have had a very good idea of your household’s financial position.

‘Your wife had been in employment since 2002 in various roles, and indeed qualified as a social worker in 2017 – you would have known that.’

She added: ‘The culpability is high because these offences plainly involved an abuse of position and trust.

‘It is also high because this was fraudulent activity over a sustained period of time.

‘On my judgement the impact of your offences has been considerable, both financially and in terms of damage to the reputation of the church.’

The Recorder then referred to a victim impact statement provided by United Reformed Church General Secretary, the Reverend Dr John Bradbury.

‘He rightly notes the conviction of a minister for any offence of dishonesty affects the reputation of the entire church.

‘The church is a charity and the impact of your behaviour on them and others cannot be underestimated.

‘You were trusted by them and you let them, and others, down badly.

‘It also had a negative impact on the life of the church, those who work at the church and those who attend the church.’

But she ‘accepted entirely’ that Hove was man of ‘previous good character.

‘It is clear from everything I’ve read you have worked very hard, often in challenging situations, to get where you got to in life, doing good work internationally in Zimbabwe and here in the UK.

‘I am in no doubt at all Mr Hove you were very good at the job you did and that you helped many people.’

She told him that he would be sentenced to two years imprisonment for the most serious count of fraud by abuse of position.

‘I am just – and I can tell you, you ought to underline the word ‘just’ – persuaded this sentence is capable of being suspended,’ the judge added.

Hove was ordered to pay back the full outstanding amount of £21,544 to the church at a rate of £250 per month and to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

The former church leader appeared unmoved in the dock as his suspended sentence was announced.

Hove, of Haringey, admitted two counts of fraud by abuse of position.