Exclusive: Whistleblowers claim food vouchers for volunteers were spent on perfume and Apple devices instead
The head organiser of the LGBTQ Pride parade in London is under internal investigation over claims he abused his position, including by buying luxury perfumes with food and drink vouchers donated by a sponsor.
Christopher Joell-Deshields, who has been chief executive of Pride in London since 2021, is facing a series of allegations from volunteer directors and others.
They include misappropriation or misuse of gifts or company funds, behaviour damaging or potentially damaging to the company’s reputation, harassment or bullying of personnel and a “serious breach” of bullying, harassment and finance policies.
Sources said that Joell-Deshields had been suspended by a newly constituted board of London LGBT Community Pride, the community interest company behind the parade.
