Parole.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Anyone watching? Really interesting.

It was as if she didn’t understand the whole concept of what a con man is!

I thought it was a well made documentary - not sensationalist but neither was it underplaying the serious decisions the parole board has to take.

The psychologist, rightly, did quite the turn around after she read more deeply into the effect of the fraudster’s actions on his victims: she had seemed to believe from his evidence that his offences were quite trivial ( characterising it as he asked for money and they agreed ) but he would hardly have been jailed repeatedly for merely charming overly generous women. Rather naive of her.

He was a classic conman - superficially charming. He had a modus operandi he always followed and thought that because he didn't use violence it somehow wasn't that bad. And if Olga exists, I'll eat my hat.

I wasn't convinced by the conman either.

Really interesting. I wonder how you become a person on the parole board, what you have to do, what qualifications and experience etc

Just googled Lucy Gampell. She really is impressive.

The psychologist, rightly, did quite the turn around after she read more deeply into the effect of the fraudster’s actions on his victims: she had seemed to believe from his evidence that his offences were quite trivial

I wondered why the panel don’t get all this information at the very beginning of the process? Maybe they’d never let anyone out if they did!

i watched it without breathing tbh as the conman was exactly like someone i knew (and am no longer with).

i thought the forensic woman had no idea at all and i'm so relieved that the narcissistic co-ercive controller is still inside. what a piece of shit he was. but the poor woman who's husband was kicked to death over football. what a shit life (i've now said that in catherine cawood accent like when she says "what a shit week") for her and it's terrible. football can bring out the violence in some people which is ridiculous.

was really shaken by watching that programme tbh. but it was so interesting.

He's not still inside. He was released recently as he'd finished his sentence. No doubt he's already up to his old tricks. He won't change.

I thought David seemed stupid

and also I couldn’t believe he tried to control the hearing from the start with his decision to make some sort of speech and they all rolled over and let him do that. Get you he wouldn’t have done that with men.

I don't think he was stupid. I think he was playing stupid, when actually he's really clever at taking people in. Look
How easily he played the psychologist. Fortunately the other two could see through him.

David had a very odd manner about him. He mad a lot of fuss about other people using power and control over him. It's clear that he doesn't recognise equal partnerships - interactions with people are all about who has the power. It's a sad way to exist and devastating for the people he comes into contact with.

The other chap, I really hope he has reformed, but he recognises he has a short fuse.

I too fell into the camp of not feeling anyone was safe for parole, but having read around the subject more, parole can often be a safer method than ensuring someone serves their whole sentence. If a criminal is released on parole they are supervised and monitored as they integrate into society. There's much less support and supervision for those who serve a full sentence and are released which can make reoffending even more likely.

I was looking for a thread on this, dont know how I missed it

The murderer I would have liked to see more of the interview. He recounted the initial offence fairly calmly but was clearly rattled at the mention of the second attack when he was first given previous parole. I wanted ot know why he was more affected by that, is it because it was more recent or he saw it as unjust

I also wanted some more pressing questions about why he thought he was ready now and able to deal with difficult situations now but clearly thought that at the time he was originally released in 2017. Whats different now. What if someone is hassling him in the probation hostel or in a shop or down the pub, whats different?

Its awful because essentially I feel that he is written off because of his childhood but that is true in a way, he is so damaged there might be no come back for him

The other bloke I cannot understand how the psychologist was originally taken in!!! I dont know the qualifications of the other woman on the panel with her, she seemed much more with it. His presentation was so victimy and an attempt at charisma and 'feel sorry for me' and 'Im desperate to impress you', it was clearly just part of his schtick.

Just watched this now.

Glad that you agreed about the psychologist, what a numpty. So glad for Lucy, not buying it for a minute.

The fraudster is a really nasty man, all me, me, me. Boohoo

Lucy was awarded an OBE for her work with prisoners and probation services or something similar. I bet she isn't as easy to convince.

@Toddlerteaplease i want to be Lucy when I grow up.

@VaddaABeetch wouldn't we all like to be her!

Just seen this. A few things surprised me

• how crucial info like victims statements (and therefore whether David was minimising his crimes) wasn't available beforehand. I wonder how much time they have to read everythi-ng in advance.
• that a lot is on zoom. I think it'd be harder to get a good impression of someone/ their body language etc online.
• that David's probation officer had to give her opinion in front of him - surely once they eventually get out some must seek revenge?
• the Psychologist did seem naive. I wonder how many of these they do/ what is down to the editing process.
• scares me that I could bump into either of those men really. Would rather they were both inside.

I was surprised that the probation officer had to give her report in front of him as well. Unless it was just the editing. Surely it makes it veery difficult for them to work together, going forward. I'm in some cases could put them in danger of reprisal if they give a bad report.
I suspect this was filmed during covid, when access to prisons was still limited. And it's also cheaper.

Who was Lucy?

Lucy Gampell OBE. The older lady on the panel.

Lucy was the older of the two women interviewing the con man, @bellac11

i watched it without breathing tbh as the conman was exactly like someone i knew (and am no longer with)

Me too @sweatervest , it was not an easy watch.

The psychologist was disappointing to say the least, I'm glad she changed her mind in the end. I hope she's learned from that.

Sorry, cross posted, @Toddlerteaplease

Oh the one with the common sense. Yes.

Me and DH watched this last night. We're both psychologists (not forensic) and whilst we appreciate that the programme will have been heavily edited we were also surprised at the initial stance the forensic psychologist took.

He was very quick to minimise his previous crimes (ie "she didn't give me money, she just bought me things"). He struck us straight away at someone who was adept at 'talking the talk but not walking the walk'. The fact he was confident that he'd be released after the hearing spoke to his usual success at getting others to believe his narratives. Although he said lots of the 'right' words he demonstrated no emotion when saying them at all. Sadly like most people think he's very likely to be reoffending right now. I think all we can hope is that people will have seen the programme or that the first poor person he cons goes straight to the police.

@Dodecaheidyin i was literally thinking "who is watching this? THIS is what i went through" was hideous that those old wankers can cause such ick.

also it's not on iplayer. was desperado to watch all of them. not something i could ever watch again. eurgh. but so interesting.