Bobby Cummines

Bobby Cummines
OBE FRSA
Born (1951-11-23) November 23, 1951
Nationality United Kingdom

Robert "Bobby" Cummines OBE, FRSA (born 23 November 1951) is an English former hitman who was chief executive of UNLOCK, The National Association of Reformed Offenders until March 2012. Formerly one of the United Kingdom's most notorious bank robbers, he rejects the designation of 'gangster'. Cummines appeared on the "True Geordie Podcast" in July 2018, describing the start of his criminal life as a "monetised neighborhood watch."[1] He is currently the CEO of Vision Housing Consultacy Service.

Career

He began a criminal career at the age of 16, as Britain's youngest armed robber. He expanded into leading a group of contract killers and racketeers, employing extreme violence in 1970s North London. He turned his life around in prison, after a conversation with Charlie Richardson of the South London "Torture Gang", who urged him to get into education and earn money without hurting anyone.[2][3] He then studied for a degree with the Open University whilst in prison.[4][5]

He was awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2011 in recognition of his services to reformed offenders.[6]

His autobiography, I Am Not A Gangster, ISBN 9780091958589, was published 15 May 2014 by Random House's Ebury Press imprint.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Elkes, Neil (17 February 2010). "Ex-con Bobby Cummines in talks to create 'criminals village' in Birmingham". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Manger, Warren (30 May 2013). "Gangster Bobby Cummines was Britain's youngest armed robber - and ended up with an OBE - Mirror Online". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Tanita (21 September 2013). "From Organised Crime to OBE: How London gangster Bobby Cummines became a model citizen". Real Crime Daily. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "Youngest armed robber: 'University changed my life'". BBC. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Interview: my life behind bars". The Guardian. 2 February 2001. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. ↑ James, Erwin (11 July 2011). "Former bank robber dreams of academies to help prisoners go straight". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Cummines, Bobby. "I Am Not A Gangster by Bobby Cummines - Books - Random House Books Australia". Random House. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
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