If you see this message you need to Get Flash and make sure javascript is enabled on your browser to see this player.
Noel 'Razor' Smith on facing up to a life of crime
Noel 'Razor' Smith recounts his life story, starting with his childhood in South London and how he first became acquainted in crime and developed a hatred of the police, after being violently attacked. After going into prison, he became more entangled in a criminal lifestyle and he went on to spend most of his adult life inside for a range of crimes including armed robbery. Noel was largely uneducated but he went on to teach himself to read and write while on the inside, entering prison story competitions and after some time coming to the attention of the author Will Self. He managed to secure a publishing contract for his first book A Loaded Gun. It wasn't until after the death of his son, (he missed the funeral as he wasn't allowed out of prison to attend), that Noel really decided to reform his ways, voluntarily entering an intensive rehabilitation programme. He has recently written his second book A Rusty Gun published by Penguin.