Ex-Activision PR Boss Found Guilty of Call of Duty Fraud
£19,000 of company money spent on personal and luxury item in company fraud
A former Activision executive and a contractor for independent PR/Marketing company Frank PR have been found guilty of siphoning £18,963 of company money to pay for an engagement party, hen night and multiple shopping sprees.
Activision PR exec Kathryn Kirton was responsible for the Call of Duty franchise when she got 'carried away' by the PR lifestyle. Multiple personal expenses were found to be charged back to Activision's account, Blackfriars Crown Court heard. Kirton was reportedly aided by Frank PR consultant Jamie Kaye, who was charged with spending £5,506 on his company credit card. Both Kirton and Kaye pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Both were sentenced on April 19th.
Judge John Hillen spared both defendants an immediate jail sentence. Kirton was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, while Kaye was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
"You were in a position of considerable responsibility," the judge said. "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."
Are you working in PR, want to comment on what the judge said? You are free to do so anonymously (even to us) in the comments below.
Source:
Causelist
DM
Activision PR exec Kathryn Kirton was responsible for the Call of Duty franchise when she got 'carried away' by the PR lifestyle. Multiple personal expenses were found to be charged back to Activision's account, Blackfriars Crown Court heard. Kirton was reportedly aided by Frank PR consultant Jamie Kaye, who was charged with spending £5,506 on his company credit card. Both Kirton and Kaye pleaded guilty to one count of fraud. Both were sentenced on April 19th.
Judge John Hillen spared both defendants an immediate jail sentence. Kirton was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, while Kaye was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
"You were in a position of considerable responsibility," the judge said. "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."
Are you working in PR, want to comment on what the judge said? You are free to do so anonymously (even to us) in the comments below.
Source:
Causelist
DM
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Comments
Darren 23 Apr 2013 11:24
1/1
So from what I gather from this judge is it's okay to essentially steal £24k as you won't get prison for it as long as you don't do it again for another two years whilst the suspended sentance runs... discrace.