A personal assistant employed by travel company Le Boat admitted to stealing £36,816 over a period of seven years by using the firm’s corporate credit card for personal expenses. Hannah Joyce, 38, who worked closely with the company’s managing director and executive team, charged items including clothing, hotel stays, car rentals, event tickets, and meals at high-end restaurants.

The misuse of funds came to light during an internal review of company expenditures at Le Boat’s headquarters in Surbiton, South West London. Joyce was confronted about a series of “suspicious transactions” that ultimately revealed the extent of her unauthorized spending.

During proceedings at Wimbledon magistrates’ court, Joyce’s defense lawyer, John Volaris, described her actions as “opportunistic and compulsive,” attributing part of the problem to the absence of adequate financial controls within the company. He emphasized that the lack of oversight facilitated the prolonged misuse of the corporate card.

Joyce, who resides in Chertsey, Surrey, admitted to the charge of theft by an employee. She was granted bail and is scheduled to be sentenced at Kingston crown court on October 30. The case highlights concerns over internal financial monitoring and the risks posed by insufficient safeguarding of corporate resources.