Kathryn Kirton, former public relations head at Activision UK, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison following her conviction for stealing tens of thousands of pounds from her former employer to pay for personal purchases, including some related to her engagement and wedding.
Kirton spent around $28,000 on such expenses as a bachelorette party, an engagement party, a trio of designer shopping sprees, and a £2,000 stay in a luxury hotel.
Her sentence, though, has been delayed to allow her to care for her two year old son, born prematurely due, ostensibly, to the stress Kirton was under at her position.
PR employees generally have access to company funds. It’s how they entertain prospective clients and organize media events, but there is a firm boundary between business expenses and those of a personal nature, the latter of which company funds are not supposed to be appropriated for. Hopefully Kirton serves as a lesson to those who would think otherwise.
Source: FPSGeneral