Joan will air on ITV next month

THE story of one of Britain’s most notorious jewel thieves, who lived in an Islington council house during the height of her criminal career, will be retold in a highly anticipated ITV drama set to air next month.

Joan Hannington was born into poverty in Acton, but made her fortune in the 1980s when she began stealing diamonds from luxury jewellery shops across London, swallowing them and switching them for fakes.

Her criminal exploits meant that she lived a life of luxury, driving a Ferrari, and at one point owning 11 fur coats and 2,000 pairs of shoes.

To avoid detection, however, she continued living in her Islington home despite having more than £800,000 worth of jewels concealed in a biscuit tin buried in her garden.

Based on her 2002 memoir, the new series, Joan, will document her dramatic life story, with Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner taking on the leading role.

“She is one of the most notorious figures in the criminal underworld of London,” said Ms Turner, “I’m so excited to be bringing Joan Hannington’s fascinating life story to screen.”

Filming started more than a year ago, with scenes being shot in Spain, Kent and Birmingham.