Ex-Activision PR boss escapes jail after admitting £19k theft
The ex head of PR at videogames firm Activision, Kathryn Kirton, has escaped a jail sentence after admitting to stealing £19k from her former employers to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Kirton and co-defendant Jamie Kaye, conceded that they had used a company credit card to make improper purchases; including an engagement party and designer clothes.
Explaining her actions to Blackfriars Crown Court Kirton said she had got carried away by the ‘glamorous and luxurious’ world of PR after being put in charge of the film premiere of hit game Call of Duty.
Kirton had been handed responsibility to oversee the budget for the launch but instead took advantage of the opportunity to fund three shopping trips to Reiss and a luxury holiday.
Ironically Kirton threw a lavish £1,500 engagement party at Café de Paris, to which she invited her boss, before later invoicing him for it.
Judge John Hillen elected to spare the pair jail however, saying: “There was repeat dishonesty over a period of months. There is no doubt your wickedness deserves a severe sentence.
“In the world of PR you are surrounded by luxury items. That is reality for people working in that industry. What is surprising is that cases like this are happening more and more often in your industry. But this is not the place to explore the PR industry.”
As Kirton has a young son she was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years.