The fascinating life of former drug lord Stephen Mee really is what dramatised movies try to replicate. Originally from Northern Manchester, Stephen faced many challenges throughout his upbringing, including personal loss and family struggles. Despite discovering his artistic talent early on, he also became involved in a life of crime. It culminated in 1996, when he was given 30 years for importing class 'A' drugs. His stories about his involvement in the trafficking of millions of pounds and...

Angela Kirwin spent over a decade working in some of the most notorious prisons in Britain, where she documented her experiences and the stories of the men she met in her book "Criminal."  On this podcast Angela told me the current prison system is failing the most vulnerable members of our society, as she discovered while working inside prisons. She believes that prison is not a separate world, but rather a place where the most damaged and vulnerable people in our society end up. Not only is...

In today's world, where news travels quickly and public scrutiny is constant, safeguarding a celebrity's image is no easy task. Even minor missteps can have a significant impact on their reputation, particularly with the rise of social media. Therefore, it's essential to have a skilled and experienced legal representative who can handle reputation risks and navigate the complexities of reputation management. Repairing the damage to a celebrity's image can be challenging once the harm has...

The collapsed trial of Liam Allan reveals a widespread problem in the legal system, which criminal defence lawyers have been warning about for some time. Liam was accused of rape and sexual assault, but his defense was that any sexual contact between himself and his former girlfriend was consensual. The Prosecution's case relied heavily on the ex girlfriends account, which is a common situation in sexual assault allegations that often occur in private settings without any independent...

Colin Sutton, a former police detective, is celebrated for his instrumental role in the capture of two of the UK's most notorious criminals. Levy Bellfield, a serial killer, and Delroy Grant, a serial rapist, were both caught thanks to his exceptional efforts. The BAFTA-nominated ITV drama "Manhunt" was inspired by the successful investigations led by Sutton. With over three decades of experience and a record of solving over 30 murder cases, Sutton is a seasoned detective with a remarkable...

Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a British-Australian academic, endured 804 days as a rebellious hostage of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) while being accused of being an agent for Mossad, MI6, or a spy for Australia. She was imprisoned in the infamous Evin prison, where she was kept in isolation from the outside world and subjected to relentless interrogations. Despite being told repeatedly that she would be forgotten, Kylie refused to confess and rejected the ever-changing...

For the past twenty years, the UK has been grappling with the aftermath of the notorious "Post Office scandal," which has affected countless innocent individuals. In 2000, the Horizon IT system was introduced to modernise the Post Office network, but its rollout led to a barrage of wrongful convictions for fraud, theft, and false accounting. Despite technological advancements in digital payments and optimised accounting, the system frequently flagged accounting discrepancies due to bugs and...

Paul Cowley's youth was marked by explosive arguments and aggression, due to his parents being alcoholics. He eventually became homeless and turned to crime, After serving in the army, which failed to provide him with the direction and purpose he craved and the subsequent death of his parents, Paul's quest for meaning led him to an extraordinary encounter with God. This encounter changed his life forever and led him to the path of priesthood. In 2022, Paul Cowley made history as Iceland's...

Amanda Knox, a journalist and public speaker, is best known for her wrongful conviction in the murder case of Meredith Kercher. Alongside her ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, Knox was accused of the crime and sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison, respectively. After four years behind bars, the Italian court acquitted them in 2011. However, Knox was again convicted in 2014 but was later exonerated by the Supreme Court of Italy. Despite her traumatic past, Knox has dedicated herself to...

Frank Stedman, a lad from Essex was arrested at Heathrow Airport on a flight back from Thailand having fled there to escape capture for his involvement in organised crime. Driven by his greed for money, Frank became a runner for an organised drug trafficking gang. He transported and delivered large sums of money and kilos of drugs across the country until the authorities caught up with him and his co conspirators. He pleaded guilty for his involvement in a £80 million drug supply conspiracy....

Jamie Hunt Interviews Raphael Rowe on the Raphael Rowe Foundation and the Importance of Improving Basic Human Rights in Prisons Worldwide They discuss the origins of the Raphael Rowe Foundation with Raphael Rowe, following the success of the Netflix series 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons'. Raphael emphasizes the need to improve basic human rights in prisons worldwide, including access to water, food, sanitation and a bed – things many of us take for granted in the UK. To learn more about...

Noel, at the age of 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment, even though he was not responsible for the fatal stab wound that killed a man. He was released 15 years and 2 months later, at 38, refusing to let his circumstances define him. Instead, he found solace in yoga - using it as a means of promoting wellness and inner peace, not just for himself but for those around him, too. During his time in prison, he developed a wellness program through yoga, which he taught to fellow inmates and...

Nicole's once-promising career as a lawyer was eclipsed by her drug addiction, which led her down a dark path. As a result, she engaged in dishonest billing practices, took cash payments from clients, and even showed up to court under the influence of drugs. Consequently, she was disbarred by the Law Society of British Columbia, and her life spiralled out of control.  She started dealing crystal meth, and found herself entrenched in dangerous situations, including surviving a brutal attack on...

As a child, Gethin Jones was highly sensitive and struggled with feelings of being lost and overwhelmed. He didn't know how to deal with his emotions and resorted to negative behavior. Eventually, he became uncontrollable and was taken away from his family and placed in the care system. This experience sent him spiraling down a path of self-destruction that resulted in a 20-year relationship with the Criminal Justice System. During this time, Gethin spent eight years in prison and developed a...

The film, The Sun Also Rises, due out later this year, portrays the life of Raye, a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, as she struggles to escape the cycle of violence and its effects on those around her. With Gina Jones in the lead role, it is a story of strength and resilience, both on and off the set. Despite losing part of her hearing and suffering from tinnitus after a car crash, Gina refused to give up on her passion for acting. She persevered through the difficulties of hearing...

Reed Domingo is a charming man with an unbelievable story. Struggling to pay for the expensive costs of American IVF treatments, he found himself in debt to the tune of $250,000. When the situation became unbearable, Reed turned to bank robbery as a last resort, even going so far as to carry cyanide capsules in case he was ever caught. Having worked in a bank and undergone extensive training on how to handle robberies, Reed knew exactly how to exploit the system during his lunch breaks,...

Jermaine Pennant is a former professional football player known for his on-field prowess and off-field controversies.  After being signed for £2 million by Arsenal at age 15, he went on to play for prestigious clubs like Leeds, Arsenal and Liverpool. However, his troubled personal life, including alcohol problems and run-ins with the law, soon overshadowed his football career. Despite his success on the pitch, he was labelled a "Bad Boy" by his former manager Steve Bruce and the British...

It may seem unlikely, but many successful entrepreneurs have come from difficult backgrounds and turned their lives around. With the right mindset, perseverance, and willingness to learn new skills, anyone can transform their life and create a successful business. Take the story of Quan Huynh, for example. In 1999, he shot and killed another man in Hollywood in a gang-related incident and spent 22 years in prison. However, upon his release in 2015, he channelled his drive and determination...

Brandon Wade, a wealthy entrepreneur, says he was searching for love in all the wrong places, relying on his wealth to attract partners. He believed love was only for those without money until he met Dana, his fourth wife and true love. They met through his own dating website, Seeking.com in 2020. Before meeting Dana, Brandon had dated sugar babies and endured a number of painful divorces. But after spending his 50th birthday alone, he knew he needed a change. After visiting a fortune teller...

Bianca Colclough's Empowering Journey: From Gambling Addiction to Creating a Supportive Community for Women Bianca Colclough, the founder of This Girl community, has opened up about her own struggles with gambling addiction. Despite being unknown to many close to her, this addiction stemmed from years of sexual abuse by a family member and dealing with her parents' difficult divorce. She has also experienced her own divorce and two miscarriages. In an effort to help other women share their...

Empowering women in the boardroom and bedroom is what Emma Sayle, also known as the Queen Kitten, is all about.   In 2005, she founded her company with the intention of empowering women both in the boardroom and bedroom. Her wild experiences in Ibiza inspired her to create a safe space for singletons and couples alike to explore and embrace their sexuality. Recently, Sayle's company launched a new app called WeAreX, which aims to help change the lives of women through both in-person events...

Anton Ferdinand, a well-known footballer who played for West Ham United and is the younger brother of former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand, became involved in one of the most significant racial cases in football history involving former Chelsea captain, John Terry. After speaking out about the incident, Anton faced severe backlash and only played another 13 games in the premier league before moving to Turkey to continue his career. In November 2020, Anton shared his story in the BBC...

Kevin Lane has been called a gangster, a hitman, and a killer.  He was given a life sentence for a hitman murder committed in 1994. He spent 20 years in prison.  He has always claimed that he was not the perpetrator of the crime, but his conviction has never been reversed. In his book 'Fitted Up and Fighting Back,' he documents his case and continues to protest innocence.  In this interview, he speaks openly about his experience working for the criminal underworld and the violent life he led...

Our guest this week on Second Chance is Leiona Townsend, whose vibrant personality shines through as she shares her experiences with us. Leiona provides her unique perspective on the Heathrow Drug gang scandal, in which baggage handlers smuggled £32 million worth of cocaine into the UK. It's clear that her past does not define her, and she is now an advocate for helping those in prison today. Leiona has been incarcerated in half of the women's prisons in the UK, and she gives us a true...