The Charity Commission has suspended the son of the founder of two wildlife conservation charities from being a trustee while it continues a more than four-year investigation.
The commission is investigating if funds were used improperly at the Aspinall Foundation and at the Howletts Wild Animal Trust, a sister charity that runs wildlife parks in Kent.
A statutory inquiry was first launched in 2021 into the foundation and interim managers were brought in during the summer to run it over fears of misconduct and/or mismanagement.
Following reports in the Telegraph, the commission has now confirmed that it has suspended Damian Aspinall, who is a trustee of both charities and chaired Howletts Wild Animal Trust.
The commission said Aspinall, son of the charities’ founder John, had been suspended from Howletts Wild Animal Trust while it has appointed interim managers to run the Aspinall Foundation.
A spokesperson for the commission said: “Our inquiries into the Aspinall Foundation and the Howletts Wild Animal Trust are ongoing.
“Towards the end of last year, fresh issues of concern were identified requiring us to embark on a further phase of investigation and our investigators are working hard to pursue these at pace.”
In reference specifically to the Aspinall Foundation, the commission said it has “appointed interim managers who are working alongside the existing trustees on specific areas in line with the charity’s governing document”.
It added: “As this inquiry is ongoing, the commission is unable to comment further.”
Newspaper allegations
According to the Telegraph, Damian Aspinall was suspended as a trustee for Howletts in December 2024 pending further investigations.
Sources spoke on condition of anonymity to the publication and said Aspinall used staff from the charity to work at his family home in Kent.
Aspinall allegedly used charity funds to pay for staff that performed roles including as a chef, maid, chauffeur, housekeeper, caretaker and security guard, according to the reports.
The Telegraph reported allegations that Aspinall had used charity money to pay for chauffeur-driven cars, club class flights and taxis, according to credit card statements and expenses.
The newspaper also reported that “luxury high end” cars, including Land Rover Discoveries and an Audi SUV, leased by one of his charities were used for personal trips by Aspinall and his former wife.
Carrie Johnson, former prime minister Boris Johnson’s wife, took up the role of senior communications officer at the foundation in 2021 and the allegations predate her hiring.
A spokesperson for the Aspinall Foundation said: “We will not comment on an ongoing inquiry.”
The foundation sponsors conservation activities both at Howletts and Port Lympne animals parks and overseas in Congo, Gabon, Indonesia and Madagascar.
It was founded by father John Aspinall, who was a casino owner and a close friend of Lord Lucan.
