Joan Hannington’s struggle to regain custody of her daughter Debbie from foster care is likely to be a focal point in the new ITV crime show “Joan.”
Debbie, daughter of Britain’s most notorious jewel thief, Joan Hannington, grew up at the center of her mother’s chaotic life.
Highlights
- Debbie was separated from her mother after being placed in foster care following her parents’ separation.
- She was born to her mother, Joan, when she was just 17 years old, shortly after her parents got married.
- In her memoir, Hannington provides an in-depth account of her life struggles and details of her past criminal activities.
When Joan’s marriage to armed robber Ray Pavey ended, her daughter was taken into foster care.
Her desire to reunite with her daughter drove her to make desperate choices, leading her into a life of crime and her infamous jewel thefts.
The ITV’s new crime drama Joan, starring Sophie Turner, sheds light on Hannington’s battle to save her daughter from foster care.
Debbie Spent Her Early Life Being Separated From Her Mother Joan Hannington
Debbie was born to Joan Hannington and her first husband, Ray Pavey.
Her father, a convicted armed robber, and her mother faced a rocky marriage that ended in their separation.
View this post on Instagram
After their breakup, Joan stole a car to see her daughter and was arrested, resulting in her being sent to Holloway Women’s Prison.
However, this incident led social workers to keep her daughter in foster care.
These early events set the stage for her journey into the world of jewel theft.
Furthermore, in 1979, at the age of 24, she ingested diamonds to steal them, a scandalous deed for which she is now well-known.
Her attempt to raise money to get her daughter back quickly turned into a risky life of crime.
As time went on and her efforts to get her daughter back failed, Joan began to focus on creating a criminal empire, famously saying,
“If I wasn’t going to get her back, I just thought: ‘F**k it, I’m going to have a brilliant life then.'”
Despite their early struggles, Debbie and Joan eventually reconnected, and Hannington left crime in her 30s to rebuild their relationship.
Debbie Is Extensively Referenced In Joan Hannington 2002 Memoir
Born sometime after Joan’s marriage to Ray Pavey in 1974, Debbie is likely in her late 40s today. Her mother was born in 1957 and is 67 years old as of 2024.
Additionally, she has a stepbrother named Benny, a famous musician, from her mother’s second marriage with whom she shares a close bond.
View this post on Instagram
In her memoir, I Am What I Am, Hannington shares important moments from her life, revealing just how important her daughter was in her journey.
Furthermore, the memoir also recounts the immense pressure she felt to retrieve her daughter from foster care.
She noted that when it became clear she wouldn’t get her daughter back, she focused on building a glamorous life that made her one of the UK’s most notorious criminals.
Joan estimated her first haul of diamonds was worth about £10K, and at her peak, she had over £800K worth of gems buried, earning her the nickname “The Godmother.”
Additional Information
- Debbie’s mother, Joan Hannington, now resides on the south coast of England with her two pet dogs.
- Joan was married to antiques expert Boisie Hannington for 11 years before he died while attempting to burn down a house for insurance money.
- The show Joan premiered on ITV on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 9 PM, with a continuation the next night at the same time.
