Alan Savill joined the Met Police in the early 80's when he was 18 years old. We talk about his career as a dog handler and the types of criminals he arrested, ranging from terrorists and armed robbers to rapists. He explains why he left the police, gives an insight into PTSD and the addiction to the job. He also talks about the close relationship with his dog. Alan worked as a prison officer and explains how he has used his knowledge and numerous life experiences to help others.   https://www.ianschain.co.uk

Paul Bethell was sentenced to 15 years for aggravated burglary on a joint enterprise charge. He is still on licence which means that he could be re-called and go back to jail, but he is determined to stay out of trouble. Paul talks about his crack addiction and recovery. He also talks about how he has changed and learned empathy towards victims of crime.   www.conversationswithcriminals.com

Frank Portinari was a football hooligan, a member of the National Front, he is the ex-commander of London UDA – Ulster Defence Association and he went to jail for supplying guns.     www.frankportinari.com TWITTER @DoormanFrank Frank's has written one book that has two different titles AMAZON https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loyalist-Paramilitary-Gunrunner-Extremism-Prison/dp/1699123314/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=frank+portinari&qid=1602512666&sr=8-1   The other title is "Left right Loyalist : From one extreme to another   Frank is currently writing his second book...        

Part two with Lee Ryan and it's brilliant again! Lee talks about the threats to his family after his huge lotto win and how the criminals in leicester reacted to his winning. We talk about the value of money, Lee tells me about losing all his money and choosing to be homeless for 5 years.

Lee Ryan was a car thief from Leicester who stole cars for various people, including arms dealers in overseas countries. He also stole vehicles for various crime-related work. We talk about the logistics of stealing cars and how that's changed from the nineties when he was at the height of his criminal career. He was dubbed by the press as the “lotto lag.”When he was in prison, he prayed and asked God to make him a multi-millionaire. He won 6.5 million quid on the lottery and as his cellmate predicted, things did not end well...

In 1996 Darren Barden was at home on a Monday night when there was a knock on the door. He was stabbed 20 times by two men and his best-selling book "Let's skip to the good bits", documents a 20-year journey to get his life back. This is a very candid interview about the consequences of knife crime and Darren talks very honestly about what the attack did to him and his family.  He now uses his experiences to inspire other people. Darren's book is here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Skip-Good-Bits-Courageous/dp/1527221628/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TJH46APX2PE8&dchild=1&keywords=darren+barden&qid=1599304180&sprefix=darren+barden%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1   Darren's youtube channel and podcast : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7YtScSpLgttKJ2BengPmSw   Change your life, put down your knife campaign : https://www.facebook.com/groups/668677394003375        

This is part of 2 of a chat with ex-bank robber Vinnie Bradish. We talk about prison violence and the differences between different category prisons, getting out of prison after a long term sentence, and trying to adapt to a more normal life. And we hear what Vinnie is doing now and it's fascinating...   www.conversationswithcriminals.com

Today's guest is Vinnie Bradish who was a bank robber.  In part 1 of two parts, we talk about why armed robbers are given such respect in jail. We talk about the reality of robbing a bank and how it was just a job. I ask him about being interrogated by police and what it's like to be sentenced to 22 years in jail. I will leave you to decide whether Vinnie and his brother Shaun were given a fair trial or not after Stephen Roberts turned Queen's evidence against them in order to get a reduced sentence.  

This is a 15 minute bonus episode. It's a conversation that didn't really fit with the rest of the podcast interview but I thought was really interesting. Last week's guest Joey Barnett offers his insight into being a prison listener. www.conversationswithcriminals.com Joey's book can bought here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/South-London-Borstal-Boys-Tales/dp/B08C97X63J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RB8TCVXUIG82&keywords=joey+barnett&qid=1597313574&sprefix=joey+barne%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

Ex-armed robber Joey Barnett. This is a very personal interview in which Joey tells me about learning to read and write as an adult, being sectioned at age 12, taking part in a dirty protest with Charlie Bronson and the “stupid way" in which he was caught and sentenced to 12 years for armed robbery. He explains how he feels about the tattoo on his face and why young people shouldn't get involved in crime. www.conversationswithcriminals.com JOEY'S BOOK - A South London Borstal Boys Tales can be found here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/South-London-Borstal-Boys-Tales-ebook/dp/B08CDZT16J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21M5MRHQR9BS3&dchild=1&keywords=joey+barnett&qid=1596820696&sprefix=joey+barnett%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1

Today's guest joined an animal rights group at age 15. At 17, he was approached by two policemen to inform on his friends. He talks about hunt saboteurs, paranoia within the animal rights community and their complex relationship with the police. 

The 3rd and final part of a conversation with Terry Ellis.    Terry talks about his first group therapy session at Grendon, going back to a mainstream prison from Grendon with a new perspective and what he's doing now.   www.conversationswithcriminals.com The link to Terry's book is below : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grendons-Therapy-Mr-Terry-Ellis/dp/B08C96QPT7 Follow Terry on Social Media Twitter : https://twitter.com/TerryEllis992 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/terry.ellis.96155 Instagram : TerryEllis992 

Part 2 of a conversation with Terry Ellis. It continues with Terry talking about being on the run for 9 months after a robbery, his decision to go to Grendon, the therapeutic prison that holds some of the most dangerous prisoners in the UK. He talks about his opinion of the inmates there and the reason that he stayed. www.conversationswithcriminals.com The link to Terry's book is below : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grendons-Therapy-Mr-Terry-Ellis/dp/B08C96QPT7 Follow Terry on Social Media Twitter : https://twitter.com/TerryEllis992 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/terry.ellis.96155 Instagram : TerryEllis992 

Terry Ellis could so easily have written a book about being an armed robber and spending many years in prison. Even if he wrote the more conventional “gangster” style autobiography, it would have made a fascinating read. But he didn't and this is just one of the reasons why I found him such a compelling person to listen to. The book that he chose to write is incredible. It's about his time at Grendon (a therapeutic prison) alongside prisoners who have committed the most extreme crimes imaginable. Anyone who has ever wondered if it's possible for someone to change should read his book and listen to this podcast. The podcast is in three parts. In the first of these, we talk about Terry's upbringing and how he climbed through the ranks of the criminal underworld. He explains his “warped sense of self worth”, why you have to be an idiot to do robberies and how his first attempt at rehabilitation failed. The link to Terry's book is below : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grendons-Therapy-Mr-Terry-Ellis/dp/B08C96QPT7 Follow Terry on Social Media Twitter : https://twitter.com/TerryEllis992 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/terry.ellis.96155 Instagram : TerryEllis992   

A former ketamine dealer from London who went to Russia to work for a dodgy Russian guy. She tells the story of how she was kidnapped in an illegal taxi. She also explains the importance of who you know and Matt gets an answer to a question he had about Russian culture.   For more podcasts see www.conversationswithcriminals.com

Today's guest was on parole when we met in Adelaide South Australia. But he still gave me a fascinating insight into crime. Again from a different perspective – that of a non-violent drug dealer. Not a phrase I usually hear. We talk about him applying the business principles he learned at Uni to sell drugs, to being raided and how to make a telephone out of a toilet. For more podcasts you can also go to www.conversationswithcriminals.com

This is Martha telling a funny story at a true storytelling night. It gives you an idea of who she is and her view of life. I will be posting a proper chat with Martha talking about being attacked and what she did about it, very soon...

Matt went to Moscow and the person he planned to meet with was suddenly unavailable. Then he met today's guest...

Clips that didn't quite make the final edit of the podcast for various reasons. Plus a brief clip of Martha. A range of conversations from intruders, stupid crimes, criminal damage, acid dealing and money laundering in Casinos.

“You can only get a bollocking if you're listening.” This was the advice given to Kevin Gleeson who went to Military prison. We talk about how he went from being last at cross country in school to joining the Royal Marines. He talks about life as a marine, what he did when he went AWOL and life inside Colchester military prison.