Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

As a fan who’s been captivated by true-crime stories for as long as I can remember, Joan has undoubtedly become one of my favorites. The six-part ITV drama based on the memoir of Joan Hannington, Britain’s most notorious diamond thief, is a riveting exploration of a woman who dared to defy the norms and live on her own terms.


Joan spoilers follow.

The recently released six-part series on ITV, titled “Joan“, draws its inspiration from the true story of Joan Hannington, a woman known as “Britain’s most infamous diamond thief”.

Sophie Turner portrays Joan in the latest drama production. Prior to filming, she had the opportunity to meet the genuine Hannington and immersed herself in her memoir multiple times to accurately depict her character.

In the ’80s, when CCTV and computerized inventory systems were not commonly used in jewelry stores, Hannington managed to steal diamonds without them ever being noticed.

In the process of seeking approval for transforming her memoir, “Joan: The Real Tale of Becoming Britain’s Infamous Diamond Thief,” now revised and reissued, Anna Symon sat down with Hannington to discuss the adaptation, as it aligns with the upcoming show.

Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

In an interview prior to the drama’s premiere, Symon shared with Digital Spy and other media outlets: “We first met in a café located in north London. I was quite apprehensive, considering A, having familiarized myself with her book and some of the criminal acts she had committed, and B, naturally seeking her endorsement.

Fortunately, she endorsed my suggestions. Right off the bat, she expressed, “Don’t proceed unless you’re prepared to reveal everything, including the less-than-perfect aspects.” Essentially, this meant she wanted her childhood experiences incorporated into it, a topic we delve deeper into later in the series.

“It seems she intended to reveal the origin of her behavior for transparency, which was something I would have done regardless. My goal was to honestly portray the astonishing intricacy in Joan’s personality and her true story.

Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

Joan true story

Born as the baby of six siblings in the western part of London, Hannington experienced a turbulent upbringing marked by abuse from her father. Escaping this harsh environment at the tender age of thirteen, she eventually tied the knot with Ray Pavey, a man who had previously served time for armed robbery.

According to the ITV series, the marriage deteriorated significantly following the birth of their child Debbie. In a desperate bid, Hannington sought help from social services, ultimately resulting in them taking Debbie away for her care.

Following Hannington’s life continued to resemble the initial episode of the ITV drama, as Symon detailed: “The swallowing of the diamonds was real, the theft of the car to visit his daughter who was in foster care, and then getting arrested for that because the car was stolen were all true events.

In that initial episode, a remarkable number of elements seemed to be directly inspired by the real world.

This encompasses the encounter with the man, later identified as her spouse and accomplice, Ronald Thomas Hannington, more famously recognized as Benny Boisie, on one fateful night at a neighborhood tavern.

Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

A seasoned artifact seller, seventeen years older than Hannington, mentored her in the craft and aided her quest to reclaim Debbie, regardless of whether it eventually bore fruit or not.

In the year 1980, at the age of 24, Hannington got apprehended for misusing a stolen chequebook. Shortly afterward, she tied the knot with Boisie at Acton Register Office. Just two weeks following her wedding, she was given a sentence of 30 months in prison.

After having a son named Benny, they carried on together. When Joan regained her freedom, she secured employment at a jewelry store, concealing her past criminal history. However, she continued to steal jewelry from the store.

Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

Swallowing the first set of diamonds served as a model for Hannington’s criminal tactics. She habitually ingested jewelry pieces and then swapped them with imitations, which went unnoticed.

Hannington stated that she had developed the ability to produce saliva in her mouth, allowing her to easily swallow multiple rings simultaneously.

In the thick of her treasure hunt, Hannington claimed that approximately £800,000 worth of precious gems had been hidden in a simple biscuit tin, tucked away within her garden.

In her words, as reported by The Sun, she described that era of her life as: “In those times, it was uncommon for a woman to be involved in such activities, but it was an exhilarating experience. I didn’t need someone else’s money to sleep with; I had my own earnings, which allowed me to buy my own cars and fur coats.

Where is Joan Hannington now?

Joan true story: Where is the jewel thief now?

Following the passing of her husband Boisie, Hannington chose to reorganize her life, distancing herself from a life of crime instead.

In a subsequent interview, she reflected, “Money didn’t bring me joy, but what I truly desired was demonstrating my ability to nurture a virtuous child amidst a conventional lifestyle.

In 2002, Hannington published her memoir and started reaching out to her daughter Debbie. During promotional events for her book in the 2000s, she shared that she had rediscovered love and her son Benny was employed as a builder at the time. She mentioned meeting Debbie, but the current status of their relationship remains uncertain.

Hannington participated in some aspects of promoting the series called “Joan” and was present at the premiere event with his son, Benny.

At the gathering, she expressed her feelings by saying: “I’ve never taken things for granted. Despite retiring 40 years ago, I lived a particular life in the 80s. Now, here I am at 68, surrounded by my son and granddaughter – it still astounds me as someone who values privacy over show business.

She expressed about the ITV drama, “Given that everyone here knows me quite well, they would understand if I didn’t appreciate it, but instead, I must say it’s terrific. Each actor, whether in leading roles or minor parts, as well as the writers, have truly excelled in their work.

Joan makes its debut on ITV1 on September 29th. After the initial episode, the entire six-episode series will be accessible on ITVX. Additionally, the drama will be shown on The CW network in the United States.

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2024-09-30 00:19

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