Imagine walking into a high-class jewelry store, draped in designer clothes, and casually walking out with millions in diamonds—by swallowing them. Welcome to the jaw-dropping life of Joan Hannington, one of the UK’s most notorious jewel thieves. The glamorous grandmother, whose daring heists in the 1980s made headlines, is now the subject of ITV’s brand new drama, Joan, starring Sophie Turner as the legendary criminal mastermind. But who was the real Joan, and how did she go from a poor West London kid to one of the most feared figures in the British criminal underworld?
From Council Flats to Diamonds
Joan’s story isn’t your typical rags-to-riches tale. Born into a poor Irish family in Acton, West London, she was the youngest of six children. But early on, Joan showed a fascination with wealth and glamour, thanks to a bracelet given to her by her godmother. That small piece of jewelry sparked a dream in Joan—a dream of diamonds, luxury, and a life far removed from her humble beginnings. But the road to riches wasn’t paved with gold—it was paved with crime.
At just 13, Joan ran away from an abusive home, and by 17, she was married to an armed robber. After a failed marriage and losing custody of her daughter Debbie to social services, Joan was desperate. Desperation led her into the high-class jewelry stores of London’s West End, where her legendary life of crime began.
The Queen of Disguise
Joan wasn’t just a jewel thief; she was a master of disguise. With her ability to blend into any situation and her brilliant mind for deception, Joan pulled off heist after heist. Her favorite trick? Swallowing diamonds. Yes, you read that right. She would memorize details of expensive rings, swap them with fakes, and gulp down the real thing before anyone could notice.
But she didn’t stop there. Joan netted over £3 million not just from diamonds but from an elaborate web of credit card and cheque fraud. And let’s not forget her brazen burglary of country houses and even surviving an assassination attempt. Joan’s life was nothing short of a movie—except it was all real.
Love, Diamonds, and Crime
While Joan’s story is one of high-stakes crime, it’s also a love story—albeit a dark one. She married Ronald Thomas Hannington, a high-class thief known as Benny Boisie. Together, they lived a life of fast cars, luxury trips, and millions in stolen goods. At one point, Joan even claims they made love on a bed covered in £1 million in cash. Talk about a wild ride.
But not everything was glamorous. Benny was killed in a botched insurance fraud scheme, and Joan narrowly escaped a hit put out on her by one of Benny’s business associates. It was then that Joan decided to leave the criminal world behind for the sake of her son, Benny Jr.
The ITV Drama: Joan
Joan’s incredible life story is now being brought to the screen in ITV’s six-part series, Joan. With Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner playing Joan, the drama promises to capture not just the glitz and glamour but also the dark underbelly of Joan’s life. Turner herself has spoken about the challenge of playing such a complex character, a woman torn between her life of crime and her desire to reunite with her daughter.
And let’s not forget the jaw-dropping heist scenes. Turner learned to recreate Joan’s signature trick of swallowing diamonds—using gummy replicas, of course!
The Legend Lives On
Today, Joan is 67 and living a quiet life, far removed from the drama of her criminal past. But her legend lives on—not just through her memoirs, but now through the Joan TV series. And as fans tune in to watch Sophie Turner bring this infamous criminal to life, one thing’s for sure: the real Joan Hannington will always be remembered as Britain’s Queen of Diamonds.
Also Read – Checkout The Cast of Joan
Joan Hannington’s story is proof that truth is stranger than fiction. From swallowing diamonds to dodging hitmen, her life has all the makings of a Hollywood thriller. And now, thanks to Joan, a whole new generation is about to discover the incredible life of Britain’s most notorious jewel thief.
Source: The Sun
