WHISTLEBLOWER Pride Boss Fired for Stealing £7k in Perfume and Tech

The head of Pride in London, one of the world’s biggest Pride events, has been shown the door following a scandal over theft and bullying.

Christopher Joell-Deshields, raking in a hefty £87,500 salary, swiped £7,125 from corporate donations meant for raffle prizes and volunteer gifts. Instead, he blew the cash on perfumes and Apple gadgets.

Whistleblowers Expose Toxic Culture

Donations came as vouchers from sponsors and were supposed to stay within the LGBT community. But insiders revealed a “toxic” workplace where bullying was rife and inappropriate messages were sent to a disabled volunteer.

After a seven-month suspension with full pay, Joell-Deshields was finally sacked this week. His appeal was swiftly rejected by an independent panel.

Legal Showdown Over Stolen Property

He’s now locked in a legal battle with Pride over his refusal to return crucial company property, including access to bank accounts and internal systems. What was he thinking?

Being on a fat salary and risking it all for just £7k worth of perfume and Apple stuff is jaw-dropping. Whether it’s thrill-seeking or sheer arrogance, he seriously miscalculated.

Running Pride costs over £1 million a year, mainly funded by sponsors and a £125,000 grant from the Greater London Authority. The event is still expected to go ahead as planned this July.