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 hundreds of kilos of cocaine with Turkish, Albanian, and Colombian crime groups beggars belief. Stephen served sixteen and a half years in prison. His life took a turn during his time in prison, where he pursued his passion for fine arts, leading to a transformative experience. He has now established himself as a professional artist, drawing inspiration from both his past and present experiences.

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Guest Links:

Stephens Website

Instagram

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Raphael's Website

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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 the system ineffective, but it also contributes to habitual criminality, making society less safe and less humane. It is, she says, high time that governments take notice of this issue and implement steps to improve the situation.

Guest Links:

Angela’s Instgram

Angela’s Book

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Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

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Raphael's Website

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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 already been done. High-profile cases, such as those involving Russell Brand, Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, actor Noel Clarke, and other high-profile stories like Philip Schofield, are just some of the examples where managing and repairing the harm caused to a celebrity's image can be extremely challenging.

In this episode, I spoke with James Modley, a proficient commercial litigator who specialises in complex cases involving reputation risks and suspected fraud. With years of experience in handling high-profile cases, James is the go-to expert for celebrities and corporations who need help managing their image. He ensures that his clients' best interests are always protected, while also trying to manage public perception of their image whether they are guilty or not.

You can also listen to my interview with James on my audio book 'You Are Accused', available on Audible. Click the link in the description or search for 'You are Accused' by Raphael Rowe to get your copy.

‘You Are Accused’ with Raphael Rowe

Guest Links:

James Modley

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael's Website

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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 witnesses.

It took two years from Liam’s arrest for his trial to proceed in the Crown Court. Prior to the trial, his lawyers had repeatedly asked the Prosecution to disclose text and social media messages between Liam and his ex girlfriend from her phone. Despite clear guidelines on disclosure, the officer in charge of the case failed to hand over this potentially useful information to the defence team. It wasn't until the trial started that this material was brought to the attention of the Prosecuting barrister, who ordered it to be handed over immediately. The messages cleared Liam of all charges. His ex girlfriend and accuser had messaged him asking for sexual contact and spoke of a desire for violent sex and rape fantasies. In other messages to friends, she stated that no crime had been committed.

To their credit, the Crown dropped the case as soon as he became aware of this material. It also made a public statement acknowledging "a very serious miscarriage of justice" had only narrowly been avoided.

You can also listen to my interview with Liam on my audio book 'You Are Accused', available on Audible. Click the link in the description or search for 'You are Accused' by Raphael Rowe to get your copy.

‘You Are Accused’ with Raphael Rowe

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael's Website

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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 track record. His involvement in these two high-profile cases, however, brought him widespread recognition. In "Manhunt," DCI Sutton is portrayed by Martin Clunes as the lead investigator who brought both criminals to justice. Sutton's book "Manhunt" provides a comprehensive insight into his methods and strategies. I had the pleasure of meeting Colin earlier this year at Crimecon, where we discussed his exceptional work as a detective in front of a live audience. We also talked about the challenges and fame that came with his exceptional career, as well as the second chance he gave to the victims of the crimes he helped solve.

Guest Links:

Colin on X

Colin's Website

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

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Second Chance on Facebook

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Raphael's Website

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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 accusations. The Australian government dismissed the charges as baseless, but she was convicted by "the hanging judge" of Iran, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

After a year in solitary confinement, Kylie was suddenly transferred to Qarchak, known as the world's worst women's prison, located on the outskirts of Tehran. Although no evidence was ever presented to support the charges against her, she was subjected to the harshest of conditions.

Finally, after a complicated prisoner swap involving four countries, Kylie regained her freedom. In this interview and her book "Uncaged Sky: My 804 Days in an Iranian Prison," she shares the story of her harrowing experience and how she overcame it.

You can also listen to my interview with Kylie on my audio book 'You Are Accused', available on Audible. Click the link in the description or search for 'You are Accused' by Raphael Rowe to get your copy.

‘You Are Accused’ with Raphael Rowe

Guest Links:

Kylie on X

Kylie on Instagram

Kylie's Book

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael's Website

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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 errors, resulting in harsh punitive measures taken against subpostmasters and staff. Consequently, thousands of innocent people lost their jobs, homes, and freedom.

The Post Office and its lawyers attempted to cover up the scandal by withholding crucial information about Horizon in court cases, leaving many of the victims without justice or compensation.

Recently, the Court of Appeal overturned the wrongful convictions of many former subpostmasters, stating that the Post Office should not have initiated the prosecutions.

Jo Hamilton, a former sub-postmistress from Hampshire, joined me on this episode to share her story of how the scandal affected her. She was accused of stealing £36,000 from her branch and pleaded guilty to false accounting in 2008 out of fear of imprisonment.

It took years for her to clear her name, and in the meantime, she had to mortgage her house and borrow money from friends. What she didn’t know at the time was the fact that the Post Office investigators had evidence indicating that she had never stolen any money but hid it from her defence.

This scandal underscores the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical behaviour, particularly with those we ought to trust the most.

You can also listen to my interview with Jo on my audio book 'You Are Accused', available on Audible. Click the link in the description or search for 'You are Accused' by Raphael Rowe to get your copy.

‘You Are Accused’ with Raphael Rowe

Guest Links:

Jo on X

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael's Website

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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 first-ever Director of Rehabilitation. His role is to recruit ex-offenders for jobs within the company. Paul has helped many individuals secure jobs at the frozen food retailer's stores, with more opportunities on the horizon.

Paul oversees the recruitment process, rather than adding it to HR or line manager responsibilities. The program has received support from the company's founder and executive chairman, Malcolm Walker.

Paul's journey from a troubled youth to a soldier, and finally to a priest, is a testament to the transformative power of faith and hope. He shares his story is to give hope to anyone who feels lost and broken.

Guest Links:

Paul on X

Paul on Instagram

Paul on LinkedIn

Second Chance Podcast Links:

Second Chance on YouTube

Second Chance on Instagram

Second Chance on LinkedIn

Second Chance on Facebook

Raphael's Website

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