Conversations with Criminals

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

Ian "Lucky" Tucker has a huge reputation and featured on Donal MacIntyre's Underworld. I met him at Dave Courtney's house and the two of them talk about the 7 years that they spent working together. To call them debt collectors is perhaps too narrow. Their day to day lives meant a wide range of jobs from dealing with a male stripper to retrieving Freddie Foreman's Ferrari.

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

During the first lockdown, Dave Courtney got a phone call from a friend asking if he could help her retrieve her barge that was stolen and dumped in Peterborough. She had ten days to get the barge or it would be destroyed. The friend is a porn star and dominatrix and the barge is of huge sentimental value. It was to be her place of work and her dream to own it. On the one hand and to the rest of the world, this is a story of Dave Courtney celebrity gangster sticking two fingers up to the authorities and going on a two week boating holiday when other people were locking themselves away. The truth is slightly different... 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.co.uk 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

How a roll of gaffer tape got Dave to meet the leader of a big Scottish firm. The armed robber who jumped bail and went on the run after watching a television programme with Dave on it. Dave and Brendan say goodbye to a dear friend who died and give him the kind of send off that he may not have wanted, but would definitely have laughed at!   www.conversationswithcriminals.com

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

THE SEX WORKER - Dave's next door neighbour shares a story and Matt learns more about the life of a sex worker than he had ever imagine. If anyone can tell me what "doing a J Lo" is then please contact me on twitter  @mattpricecomedy

The day Dave Courtney's sex dungeon caught fire. Problems in Tenerife. A vulnerable adult asks for help and the lucky winners of an auction get to experience some home cooking with Dave's trademark recipe.

Who killed Nigel Benn's fish? How Dave ended up with a jacuzzi that was taken from the top of an illegal drinking den. I ask Brendan a very personal question and learn about the unexpected consequences of violence. This episode is funny, interesting and heart breaking in equal measure.

"I said to the geezer... If you want weed, just ring up and say, I want to speak to Mr Brown...And if you want steroids, just ring up and ask for Mr Muscle." In today's episode we talk about when crimes go wrong and find out how a coward survives in prison. Matt explains his reasons for wanting to meet Dave and learns about what Dave calls his "disguise" - something that everyone has and hides behind.

Matt meets Dave Courtney for the first time and is surprised by everything he sees and hears. Nothing is as he expected. Dave's best friend Brendan is a coward and Matt hears about how the now deceased psycho Ray really lived up to his name by hatching a plan to murder his wife in a very inventive way. Dave talks about the time one of his men phoned him from a dustbin that he was hiding in to ask for help. Matt realises that he doesn't share Dave's ability to read people.  

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.

Today's guest talks very honestly about anger and rage, or as he put it "the animal inside me". He was sent to prison and when his fellow inmates found out who he was, they attacked him repeatedly. He fought back time and time again and was sent to 15 different jails. This episode is a real eye opener for anyone who is interested in prison life.  

James Nokise was a junior gang member in New Zealand. In today's episode, he talks about gang culture and about joining a gang. He explains why he joined and why he had to leave. 

Colin Higgins brought two very dangerous murderers and paedophiles to justice. He refuses to be a victim of crime and in this episode he talks very candidly about how he and 15 other boys were groomed and sexually abused when they were teenagers. He describes how the two men intimidated and manipulated their victims and family. He also talks about how they boasted about killing a woman who was trying to protect one of the boys they were abusing and how they were finally put in prison for murder. This is a perspective on crime I never thought I would get. Please share it. Thankyou. For more about Colin see the links below : https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1441135-i-m-using-my-childhood-abuse-ordeal-to-make-people-laugh/?fbclid=IwAR3FYFaHUG8II7k1WqUMO888RE8fJT7Jlm3ufoEJwFpIX0w-ciroyfFpwOA   https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/simply-put-i-discovered-laughing-was-the-best-possible-medicine-and-if-i-could-make-others-laugh-too-surely-that-was-better-than-taking-handfuls-of-pills-for-the-rest-of-my-lifeabuse-survivor-foll/?fbclid=IwAR2LKokJYwNFKA6jIAkT5wYWKeSNpHJfnMrqf8nQqMX2_sW29rH-zJ5ODPs  

This week Matt is joined by his friend Nik Coppin in the port of Estepona in Spain. We speak to the Mother of Estepona – Paula AKA Mucky Fuddle. She talks about running a brothel, running her business from inside the notorious Alhaurin prison, the time she was nearly done for attempted murder and gives an insight into why she has lived a life of crime. A fascinating and unexpected conversation...

Matt went to Turkey in 2013 to perform standup comedy to holiday makers for a summer season. He was there with three other comedians. After 6 weeks, it didn’t work out. Matt tells the story of what he thinks happened. This is followed by a conversation with two former criminals who give their opinion on what was going on and it is scary. Matt will never know the truth and has no real desire to know, but it makes very interesting listening. Was it all a well organised scam? Or something else?

Part 2 of a conversation with a guest from Cornwall. The conversation continues from last week. We talk about people who actually live the life vs those who pretend, people who do well in prison and how to run a prison shop. We also discuss staying out of jail and settling down.   Thankyou for listening!   Please like and leave a comment. THANKYOU  

This week's guest talks about organised crime in Cornwall. Are Cornish criminals soft bumpkins who are terrorised by a balloon on a stick? In part 1 of two parts, we talk about his journey into crime, the network of good blokes, the logistics of robbing a drug dealer and violence in prison. Thankyou for your support. Please keep sharing and liking the podcast. It really is appreciated.

A funny story about a car that was bought at an auction and landed this week's guest in trouble. This is followed by an interview in which we talk about levels in crime, looking the part and the importance of front. How a nice guy gets involved in Crime and copes when he knows deep down that he's not really suited to it!

Jon Gould has a huge reputation. In this episode we talk about his extremely violent career. Everything from chasing men who were armed with chainsaws, to a shoot out in the Middle East and the pride he takes in being a family man.   PLEASE SUBSCRIBE and SHARE on social media. It really is appreciated.

This episode is a conversation with a former heroin addict who became a dealer and then tried to kill himself when he messed up a drug deal and cost his suppliers money. We talk about the life of an addict, dealing heroin and what it takes to climb the ladder as a drug dealer. He is very honest about being an addict for ten years. It is insightful and hopeful. He now works in a rehab unit as a counsellor.

The third generation of men in his family to go to jail, today's guest describes his son as a “straight goer” who has nothing to do with crime. The chain of crime has been broken and this is the story of growing up with parents who were in and out of prison in Scotland. Making the decision to move to London, we discuss the art of hoisting as well as robbing banks in the late 80's and early 90's.

Ex-policeman and Judo Champion, Andy Costello has turned his life around. He was fired from the police and then after a downward spiral, went to jail for taking violent revenge on a man who punched his daughter. He now runs a very popular MMA gym in Exeter. He talks about being on both sides of the law, revenge, controlled aggression, dealing with fear and chess boxing. Please SUBSCRIBE and SHARE  

Brendan admits to being a coward. In fact, he has always been very happy to be known as a coward and a non-fighter amongst criminals. He prefers running away to getting involved in confrontation and in this episode, you will hear how he joked his way out of a number of situations. He talks about comic timing and demonstrates it perfectly!

Dave Courtney became known to the public when he was asked to do security at Ronnie Kray's funeral. He speaks about why being a criminal is not a good career move and how crime has changed with the increase in Eastern European criminals.