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Christopher Joell-Deshields, the suspended chief executive of Pride in London, is accused of obstructing a disciplinary inquiry into allegations of theft and bullying by failing to relinquish control over the organisation’s bank accounts and systems, according to documents filed in court. On Tuesday, Joell-Deshields appeared before London’s High Court facing claims that he has refused to return crucial company access details, including usernames, passwords, and personal identification numbers.
Legal representatives for Pride in London, the group responsible for one of the UK’s largest annual pride events, have accused the 55-year-old of attempting to conceal the full scope of his actions. Despite denying one allegation of failing to hand over company accounts, Joell-Deshields admitted to not submitting a statement confirming he had complied with the court’s directives. His lawyer, Dr John Brown, argued that his client disputes the claim regarding the return of all requested items but acknowledged the omission of a verifying witness statement.
The dispute followed a court injunction granted in September 2025, which required Joell-Deshields to surrender company property, including devices, bank account access, and social media credentials, during the ongoing disciplinary investigation. Joell-Deshields maintained that a laptop yet to be returned was purchased by the organisation specifically to replace his damaged work device.
Deputy judge Tim Maloney KC indicated that a trial on the outstanding contempt allegations will be scheduled after 10 February. The hearing is set to determine suitable sanctions for Joell-Deshields’s failure to provide the witness statement and to examine Pride in London’s case on one of the contempt claims. The court order explicitly warns that non-compliance could result in imprisonment, financial penalties, or asset seizures.
The suspension of Joell-Deshields came amid serious accusations that he misappropriated approximately £7,000 in vouchers intended for Pride in London, spending the amounts on luxury items such as perfumes and Apple products. Further complaints from volunteers alleged a toxic workplace environment and bullying directed toward a disabled volunteer. Despite the ongoing investigation, now in its seventh month, Joell-Deshields continues to receive an annual salary exceeding £85,000 from the organisation.
Joell-Deshields’s legal team has emphasized that any cooperation with court orders does not equate to admitting guilt regarding the underlying accusations. This case arises during a challenging period for Pride organisations. In 2025, many events were either cancelled or scaled back due to a decline in fundraising and volunteer engagement, underscoring the difficulties faced by such groups across the UK
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