MICHAEL Emmett was one of the world's biggest drug smugglers during the 80s and early 90s.

His arrest in 1993 saw him find God, something that has shaped his life since, and helped him reform. This is what we know about Emmett.

Who is Michael Emmett?

Michael Emmett is a former criminal from South London.

He joined his father's organised crime business when he was 16, saying he had an attraction to crime.

He has three children with his former wife Tracy, named Aimee, Lillie and Beth.

They had the children before he went to prison, and married years later.

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Why did Michael Emmett go to prison?

In November 1993, Emmett was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison after being involved in a £13million smuggling operation.

He was found guilty of bringing five tonnes of cannabis into the UK.

He was initially held at HMP Exeter, which was the same prison that his father was held.

He was transferred to Swaleside Prison in Kent and later Maidstone Prison, where he befriended notorious gangster Reggie Kray.

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Emmett was released from prison in 1998 after serving four- and-a-half years of his sentence.

What does Michael Emmett do now?

While in prison, Emmett discovered Alpha, a Christian programme that teaches the basics of the religion and encourages discussion about Christianity.

Emmett created the Alpha in Prisons course, which is a series of talks where prisoners are introduced to Christianity.

He helped to introduce this programme into 900 prisons around the world.

The idea is to help prisoners find a different path in life.

He wrote a book, called Sins of Fathers, which details his career and his adoption of faith when he was behind bars.

Who is Michael Emmett's father?

Brian Emmett was Michael Emmett's father.

He was a career criminal, beginning his foray into the transportation of drugs in the 1980s.

He was friends with famous criminals including the great train robbers, the Kray twins and Freddie Foreman.

UK’s most notorious gangsters and criminals

  • Notorious prisoner Charlie Bronson
  • The Kray Twins from London's East End
  • Former gangster Marvin Herbert
  • Ex-armed robber Vic Dark
  • Former gangland enforcer Brian Cockerill
  • Notorious British criminal Carlton Leach
  • Paul Sykes – known as Britain's hardest prisoner
  • Kevin Lane – given a life sentence for murder
  • Convicted murderer Tony Argent
  • Former drug-smuggler Chet Sandhu
  • Fearless UK hardman Lee Duffy
  • Career criminal Curtis Warren
  • Gangleader Charlie Richardson
  • A-Team leader Terry Adams

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