 | |
| Name | Joan Hannington |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1957 |
| Birth Place | London |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Diamond Thief |
Joan Hannington, born in 1957, became one of Britain’s most infamous diamond thieves during the 1980s, earning her the nickname “The Godmother.” Known for her stunning looks and ability to outsmart law enforcement, she built her reputation by committing high-stakes jewelry thefts across London. Her life of crime was largely inspired by her desire to escape a difficult upbringing and provide a better future for her daughter. Her story was later adapted into a six-part ITV drama starring Sophie Turner.
Early life and education
Joan Hannington grew up in a tough neighborhood in London. Born into a working-class Irish family, she was one of six children, and her childhood was marked by poverty, violence, and hardship. Her parents struggled to make ends meet, and Joan often went without basic needs like food or proper healthcare.
She left school at the age of 15 and took on a series of low-paying jobs to help support herself, including working as a shop assistant, waitress, and factory worker. However, stable employment remained elusive, and Joan soon turned to other, more illicit ways of making money.
Career
Joan’s journey into the world of crime began with minor offenses such as petty theft and scams, but she quickly escalated to more daring criminal activities. She became a master of disguise and deception, pulling off numerous high-profile jewelry heists in the heart of London. Her ability to blend into different environments and assume different identities allowed her to carry out these heists without being detected.
Joan’s most famous exploits include:
The Bond Street Caper: A successful jewel theft where she made off with £100,000 worth of diamonds.
The Mayfair Mansion Heist: Joan stole valuable jewels worth £500,000 from a luxury property.
The London Gallery Theft: She expanded her skills to art theft, stealing priceless pieces from a gallery.
Her knack for swallowing diamonds to avoid detection became one of her signature moves, allowing her to walk out of high-end jewelry stores undetected. By the end of her criminal career, Joan had stolen millions of pounds in jewels and was regarded as one of Britain’s most accomplished diamond thieves.
Personal life
Joan Hannington’s personal life was as tumultuous as her career in crime. At 17, she became a mother, giving birth to her daughter, Debbie. She entered into a disastrous marriage with Ray Pavey, a man with a troubled and violent past. Their relationship was volatile, with Ray’s illegal activities and temper causing constant tension. Joan eventually left Ray when he went on the run, putting her daughter into care to keep her safe.
Joan later married Boisie Hannington, a man 17 years her senior who introduced her to the world of professional theft. Boise was an expert in antiques and had deep connections in the criminal underworld. The couple worked together on several major heists, but Joan’s criminal lifestyle eventually led to her arrest. She served 30 months in prison for using a stolen checkbook, and upon release, she returned to crime but eventually left the underworld for good.
She has two children, Debbie and a son from her second marriage, Benny Jr. Joan now lives by the seaside with her two dogs, having left her life of crime behind.
References
- Cosmopolitan UK – Where is the Real Joan Hannington?
- NewsBytes – The Real Story Behind Sophie Turner’s Joan
- Glamour – Sophie Turner’s Joan Wardrobe
- Sportskeeda – Joan Soundtrack: A Definitive Guide
- Mirror – Boisie Hannington: The Real Person Behind Joan
- Google Books – Joan
- The Spinoff – Neon’s New British Drama: A Trip Back to the 1980s