The Lone Brit on 13: A Prisoner's Hell in Spain's Toughest Jail

by Christopher Chance

The Lone Brit on 13 is a gripping true story of violence, degradation and adventure penned in the confines of a grim Malaga prison cell. Imprisoned for almost two years for drug-smuggling, Christopher Chance reveals the horrors he experienced among cut-throat villains in the netherworld of the Spanish prison system. Chance takes to writing in his dank prison cell in an attempt to escape his surroundings, and recalls various episodes in his life—his time serving as a soldier in Thailand and Malaysia; his involvement with the 3 Para snatch-squad in the 1970s Belfast; and his subsequent descent into drug dealing and trafficking, which culminated in a high-speed boat chase and his imprisonment in a top-security Spanish jail. As the sole British inmate, Chance was a prime target for the intimidating Spanish hardmen who thrived on cruelty and treachery. The Lone Brit on 13 is the genuine account of an adrenalin-addicted Englishman single-handedly defeating intimidation, racism, and potential drug addiction in the bleak surroundings of a Spanish jail.

Genres: Spain, Crime

238 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Christopher Chance was born in Widnes during World War Two and was educated at St. Bede’s school and St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More School. He was further educated in the Corps of Royal Engineers where he served twelve years as a Combat Engineer. During his twelve years in the British Army he worked in Engineer Intelligence with the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) and as an Intelligence Operator in Northern Ireland working with Special Branch and others. He was an Anti-interrogation instructor; a Small Arms School Corps weapons instructor and an explosives and demolitions expert (Combat Engineer grade 1).
On leaving the armed forces he entered the Licensed Trade and became a restaurateur; a member of the Guild of Sommeliers and a member of the British Institute of Innkeepers. After several years as a restaurateur, he left England to set up his martial-arts business with his wife in Spain where they opened two schools of martial-arts on the Costa del Sol. His interest in the martial-arts started many years ago when he trained at the Singapore Karate Club in 1965 and his interest grew throughout his military career and on through his adult life. He holds dan grades (Black Belt) in ju-jitsu and karate and was the international representative for the World Combat Federation in Spain and Portugal. He adopted the use of the black Gi after returning from seminars in the USA.
During a several months long visit to the USA; he trained with many known martial artists in California. He appeared on the seminar poster celebrating twenty years teaching in California for the Gary Forbachs Kajukenbo Self-Defence Institute alongside such esteemed names as: Malia Dacascos Bernal; Master Ted Sotello, Master Eric Lee, Sifu George Kikes, Sifu Julio Hernandez, Sifu John Bishop and of course, Si Gung Gary Forbachs. Christopher Chance was billed as the London Sensei.
Unfortunately, he fell into the hashish smuggling world in North Africa and Spain and paid the price with years of captivity in Spanish and French prisons where he penned his first three books, two of which were published by Mainstream Publishing (The Random House Group).
His third prison book is now available as an e-book on Amazon.
He now spends his time writing screenplays and true crime stories.
Check the links below to see his printed books available from Amazon.co.uk.

http://www.chrischance.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christopher-C...

Reviews

[Erik Surewaard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a book about prison life. This is a book about the authors drug dealing and his fighting abilities. There is only a little bit about his time in prison, but also that is focussed on how good he is as a fighter.

I do not recommend this book.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books alright, writing style is ok but I can't help myself thinking that "Chancer" is a bit of a bloater all his derring do and fights are somewhat more unbelievable as the book drawers on. Reads more like an action novel than real life book. Quick easy read, worth a look if you want a bit of entertainment make you own conclusions see what you think.