Ex-Finance Boss Who Pinched £35k from Isle of Wight Tourism Escape Jail
A former finance officer who siphoned off nearly £35,000 from Visit Isle of Wight has dodged prison – after selling her home to pay back every penny.
Joanne Thornton, 56, once trusted as the financial director, ripped off £34,979.51 during her time at the tourism body. She no longer lives on the Isle of Wight and is married to ex-Visit Isle of Wight chief executive David Thornton.
Theft Only Discovered After New Boss Took Over
The fraud only came to light after a new managing director took charge and spotted the discrepancies. At Isle of Wight Crown Court on Monday, Thornton was handed a 20-month suspended sentence.
Judge David Melville slammed the theft as a “serious breach of trust.” Though the stolen cash was reportedly spent visiting her sick son in Sheffield – who has Asperger’s – and her mother with dementia, the judge was unswayed.
Pay Up or Face Prison
In a show of leniency, the judge gave Thornton a strict ultimatum: repay the full amount within a week or do six months behind bars. Alongside her suspended sentence, she faces a three-month curfew.
Visit Isle of Wight Exec Vows to Prevent Repeat
Will Myles, Visit Isle of Wight’s head, reassured BID levy payers and volunteers:
“I continue to assure our Wight BID levy payers that all monies received have been used fully and correctly in line with our plans. We’ve put new checks and policies in place to make sure this never happens again. This marks a line in the sand – now we focus on marketing the Isle of Wight and boosting tourism, which pumps £303 million into our economy each year. These crimes were caused solely by Joanne Thornton, who we trusted but who stole from the organisation.”
