Second Chance

Sentenced to life imprisonment in 1981 with a recommendation he serve 15 years. . Released in 2016, 36 years later. What was that like? How do you survive that length of time in a confined prison cell behind concrete walls and bars. Is it possible to reintegrate back into a society that has moved forward beyond recognition.  This is Ray Gilbert's story. Links:  Ray Gilbert Facebook   Second C...

Emma-Jane Taylor is not afraid to speak out on subjects that many people find taboo. Aged 9 Emma was sexually abused. Aged 13 she was groomed and raped. Aged 17 she took back control of her life. Aged 23 she sought therapy and embraced her experience. Now she is a successful entrepreneur and public speaker empowering her daughter, her friends and woman around the globe. Being a victim of sexual ab...

Stephen Gillen was once described as an organised crime boss and one of Britain's most dangerous prisoners. After serving a number of lengthy prison sentences  he embarks on a life changing journey. One that benefits him and others. As a dangerous prisoner he spent years in and out of secure units - inside maximum security prisons. However, Stephen Gillen is no exception to the vast number of...

When David, a privately educated city financial broker, lost his job he tried to hide the fact from his girlfriend, family and friends. His addiction to cocaine and gambling led him to crime and eventually attempts to commit suicide. Prison changed his outlook on life. As he prepares for an adventure no-one has ever attempted before he tells me why he has not allowed his mistakes to define him. Li...

Gary Mansfield agreed to transport two holdalls across the UK for a criminal organisation. What he thought was a couple of bags full of fake designer clothes labels turned out to be over 4 million pounds worth of class A drugs.  The judge sentenced him to 14 years in prison. Inside prison Gary discovered his real artistic skill was not selling fake clothing and drugs but his ability to create art...

Cannabis, or weed as it is widely known, is freely available to order online for delivery in some states of America. This decriminalisation and legalisation of cannabis, although in conflict with Federal laws, has generated a trade now worth millions of dollars for CEO’s importing or growing their own weed in places like California, Colorado and Alaska. But not everyone is in high spirits about th...

DJ Vodicka worked as a correctional officer in the state of California, in the USA.  For sixteen years he was a prison guard in the highest security prisons, serving meals to gang leaders, serial killers in lockdown cells, and patrolling exercise yards filled with violent felons while unarmed and outnumbered 1000-to-2. He belonged to an elite unit called the Investigative Services Unit, responsibl...

Romani Boreland aspired to become an economist and was courted by both Havard and Yale Universities in America. He chose to stay and study in the UK making his mother Natalie extremely proud. He was 19 years old, full of life and a bright future when he decided to attend a New Years party with some friends to bring in 2018.  At the part a fight resulted in two teenagers being stabbed, one fatally....

In the state of Ohio in the USA children can be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of ever being released or even considered for release. That might be about to change because of organisations like The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice.  Celia Ouellette is an inspiring leader and works with companies to champion fairness, equality and effectiveness across systems of p...

Michaela Booth was neglected by her heroin addict parents when she was a child. As a teenager, a sixty second act of violence led to her ending up serving a prison sentence in the same prison she used to visit her mother in. Her painful memory of  leaving her own daughter to be cared for by her heroin addicted mother tormented her. The stigma of her conviction and imprisonment propelled her to cha...

Lennox Rodgers' brutal childhood shaped the violent person he became. The crimes he committed were sadistic and often unprovoked. Aged 12, he became a prolific thief. This  later led to his recruitment to organised crime groups. Some will think he doesn’t deserve a second chance. Some will think he was never given a first chance. However, he is now a reformed man and helps steer young people...

Garry Newlove died in 2007 after confronting a gang of youths he suspected of vandalising his wife's car.  Three teenagers aged 19, 17 and 16 were convicted of his murder.  Garry Newlove's death was one of a number of high profile, widely reported murders in England during the late 2000s which purported to highlight the rise of crime involving youth gangs. Other comparable murders around...

On the morning of 26 April 1999, Jill Dando, an English journalist, television presenter and newsreader, was shot dead outside her home in London. It prompted the biggest murder inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan Police and the country's largest criminal investigation since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. A year later a local disabled man, Barry George, was arrested and later convicted...

Andrew grew up on one of the toughest social housing estates in London. He smoked his first cannabis spliff to impress his peers. It was the start of his journey to becoming an alcoholic, drug addict and the inevitable convicted criminal and prisoner. Now he works for the major government department at the heart of the criminal justice system in the UK, The Ministry of Justice. Links: Andrew Morri...

The woman I spoke to in this episode doesn’t want to reveal her true identity. So we agreed that I would call her Racheal. Racheal describes the moment her son was killed by a stranger with one punch. The unprovoked attack led to one man losing his life and another being sent to prison. This is not gang related; the result of an argument or a premeditated attack. It is a tragic tale shared by a mo...

John Crilly, a man described by the police, politicians and the media as a hero, helped stop a terror attack on London Bridge that took place in 2019. The attacker had already stabbed and killed two people and wounded three others with two kitchen knives. The terrorist, Usman Khan, was also wearing a fake suicide belt - but John who used a fire extinguisher to stop Khan before the police arrived a...

Richard Pendelbury, a former police sergeant, was once commended for heroism. His career ended after he himself was arrested, although later acquitted of theft, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and two counts of perverting the course of justice. He was subsequently sacked for gross misconduct after being accused of hacking into police systems and leaking information about undercover ope...

A former club bouncer's story about race - violence - revenge and faith. Es Kaitell chose a fast-paced life that skirted a fine line between enforcement and crime, family life and fun, building a business or looking for trouble. Crisis came when a savage brawl left him with injuries serious enough to jeopardise his life and career as a nightclub doorman.  Support the show Hosted on Acast. See...

John-James Chalmers - AKA JJ Chalmers - is a former Royal Marine Commando, who suffered life changing injuries from a bomb blast that claimed the lives of two of his close friends in Afghanistan.  Since his recovery, JJ went on to become a television Presenter, a public speaker and Invictus Games medallist. as well as being friends with Prince Harry he has recently been confirmed as one of the sta...

Cookie served 13 years in prison for killing her 12 weeks old baby boy . She maintains she is a victim of a gross miscarriage of justice and is determined to tell her side of the story.  This podcast was Sponsored by S-String Management Consultancy .  It is produced by Your Vision Media Ltd , and the original music is created by JayRo Productions .  The  design cover is by studio Minerva .  The ho...

In this episode Raphael is joined by Lordia Lewis-Spencer , a Clinical Psychotherapist from Protea Psychotherapy Practice , and Chris Hickin from Remedi who provide Restorative Justice Services. They explain what ‘Second Chance’ actually means in a practical context. This podcast is produced by Your Vision Media Ltd and the original music is created by JayRo Productions .  The cover is designed by...

Raphael Rowe introduces the podcast series and shares why he wants people to pause and think about what a second chance can actually mean. Support the show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.