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HMP Manchester Prison Officer: I Survived Terrorists, Murderers, Rapists and Freemason Officer Attacks in Strangeways and Wormwood Scrubs
“Shocking, darkly hilarious and eye-opening. The treacherous attacks from Freemason prison officers were terrifying.” – Shaun Attwood, true crime author/YouTuber
Drugs. Riots. Shanks. Dirty Protests. Violent Freemason guards. Self-mutilation and suicides. Welcome to the brutal truth about life as a prison officer.
With a career spanning 10 years inside the walls of Britain's most infamous prisons – Manchester’s Strangeways and London’s Wormwood Scrubs – John Sutton has experienced it all. Attacked by The Soho Vampire an insane killer, assaulted by The Cambridge Rapist, threatened by The IRA, beaten, persecuted and prosecuted by Freemason officers, John Sutton survived to reveal the hard-hitting truth in this jaw-dropping memoir.
If you have ever wondered what a career in The Prison Service is really like then this searingly honest account will take you onto the landings housing Britain's most dangerous prisoners. Accompany John as he carries the keys that lock up murderers, rapists, gangsters, paedophiles, terrorists, addicts and the mentally ill. As well as the ever-present threat from the inmates, John had to endure a conspiracy of violence from his own colleagues who were Freemasons – nothing can be more dangerous in prison than the staff not having your back!
Horrifying, harrowing and humorous, John’s book will take you on an unforgettable journey into a netherworld of drugs, violence and hostile Freemasons.
Drugs. Riots. Shanks. Dirty Protests. Violent Freemason guards. Self-mutilation and suicides. Welcome to the brutal truth about life as a prison officer.
With a career spanning 10 years inside the walls of Britain's most infamous prisons – Manchester’s Strangeways and London’s Wormwood Scrubs – John Sutton has experienced it all. Attacked by The Soho Vampire an insane killer, assaulted by The Cambridge Rapist, threatened by The IRA, beaten, persecuted and prosecuted by Freemason officers, John Sutton survived to reveal the hard-hitting truth in this jaw-dropping memoir.
If you have ever wondered what a career in The Prison Service is really like then this searingly honest account will take you onto the landings housing Britain's most dangerous prisoners. Accompany John as he carries the keys that lock up murderers, rapists, gangsters, paedophiles, terrorists, addicts and the mentally ill. As well as the ever-present threat from the inmates, John had to endure a conspiracy of violence from his own colleagues who were Freemasons – nothing can be more dangerous in prison than the staff not having your back!
Horrifying, harrowing and humorous, John’s book will take you on an unforgettable journey into a netherworld of drugs, violence and hostile Freemasons.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2022
97 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 13, 2023
The fascinating insights behind the bars at Wormwood Scrubs were very interesting to read and experience.
However, I had a few issues with the narrator - one being an unfortunate edge of self-importance and ego which made me a little dubious of his character. (always coming off better in fights, always knowing better than his superiors, gloating about not buying his wife a birthday present and trashing their house when she was in hospital giving birth which took her 5 hours to clean upon her return etc etc).
The second being that each chapter seems to have been written individually and therefore reads a bit clunky. Certain things are repeated or re-introduced for the first time when we've just read about them already, certain events repeatedly explained etc. It's like noone has proof read it after it's been put together.
I didn't mind the frequent references to his superiors or prisoners being alleged freemason, (although this did seem to be an excuse for everytime he suffered an altercation with somebody) and I'm usually pretty up for believing this scenario (and still do) however I wouldn't have minded a little bit more on why he came to know these people were freemasons. How did he find out? Did someone tell him? Did he catch them out? Or Was it just a wild guess etc.
The references to the supernatural were a bit odd, in a way that they did seem out of place in the book. It was almost laughable and I don't really laugh at these types of experiences usually. The author would have a sudden vision of bad luck right before something bad happened etc. I don't know it just felt a bit... Immature maybe?
That being said I still enjoy reading these Memoirs and I will read his second one about his life after transferring to HMP Strangeways.
However, I had a few issues with the narrator - one being an unfortunate edge of self-importance and ego which made me a little dubious of his character. (always coming off better in fights, always knowing better than his superiors, gloating about not buying his wife a birthday present and trashing their house when she was in hospital giving birth which took her 5 hours to clean upon her return etc etc).
The second being that each chapter seems to have been written individually and therefore reads a bit clunky. Certain things are repeated or re-introduced for the first time when we've just read about them already, certain events repeatedly explained etc. It's like noone has proof read it after it's been put together.
I didn't mind the frequent references to his superiors or prisoners being alleged freemason, (although this did seem to be an excuse for everytime he suffered an altercation with somebody) and I'm usually pretty up for believing this scenario (and still do) however I wouldn't have minded a little bit more on why he came to know these people were freemasons. How did he find out? Did someone tell him? Did he catch them out? Or Was it just a wild guess etc.
The references to the supernatural were a bit odd, in a way that they did seem out of place in the book. It was almost laughable and I don't really laugh at these types of experiences usually. The author would have a sudden vision of bad luck right before something bad happened etc. I don't know it just felt a bit... Immature maybe?
That being said I still enjoy reading these Memoirs and I will read his second one about his life after transferring to HMP Strangeways.
January 17, 2024
Okay. This was weird. The psychic stuff was a bit too much and not needed. And I believe it's genuine, which is alright but it's not what I was reading for. Like there are ghosts repeatedly mentioned, there is at one point a poltergeist who throws and floats beds and people The author is psychic, gets visits from the beyond and has visions of the future. It's so out of place. They tell him he will be famous and everyone will know his name. Which didn't quite happen, but maybe it was about the brother after all but who knows, or maybe he became seriously famous in the second book. The prison he worked at is a very old place after all and they are known to make quite a few sounds. And I remember reading but can't find the research article on there is a certain frequency that is not able to be heard very well that happens in older buildings that can cause visual hallucinations. Not that I'm the person who denies that there may be a beyond, I just don't think it's like the old ghostly woman who appears in corner of your eye, then dissappears cliche. As it's very normal to occasionally see something through the corner of your eye due to the way the brain works.
Also, this book does not need to be two parts. It's 236 paged book, not 500 and the second part is also 244. Feels too cash grabby and is not needed. It also needs to be more edited which could bring the page number down. There are explanations that are explained again despite being talked about only in the last chapter. It can get repetitive. Also, while I know the author wanted to be a writer, this type of writing wasn't their strong suit.
Also, I don't get all the freemasons stuff. Like there is nothing about how he finds every single person he has a problem with was a freemason, which is a lot as everyone seems dirty. Not many clean people are mentioned apart from the author. I can't find much research to connect freemasons and prisons, though in fairness, articles probably won't have been uploaded from the 70's on the internet so it could have been a huge thing. But what was their big plan? Seems all kind of pointless to me. Was freemasons in the 70's like the 90's satan panic? Maybe I'll find out their big plan in part two but I'm not reading it.
Paul descent into alcoholism is hard to hear, especially when they go drinking together.
Also, goshhh, things were rough and a lot of the staffs behaviour was abhorrent. I mean, prisons are currently awful due to budget cuts, yet these times were something else.
Also "I won't violate your rights if you do what I say the moment I ask it." made me hmmmmm. And the mentions of my authority was ick.
But the thing with the birth of their child and how they were treated were disgusting. That was a real horrible situation and they were treated callously.
I get the author likes John C, but wowww, nowdays he'd be inside the cell itself.
Also, this book does not need to be two parts. It's 236 paged book, not 500 and the second part is also 244. Feels too cash grabby and is not needed. It also needs to be more edited which could bring the page number down. There are explanations that are explained again despite being talked about only in the last chapter. It can get repetitive. Also, while I know the author wanted to be a writer, this type of writing wasn't their strong suit.
Also, I don't get all the freemasons stuff. Like there is nothing about how he finds every single person he has a problem with was a freemason, which is a lot as everyone seems dirty. Not many clean people are mentioned apart from the author. I can't find much research to connect freemasons and prisons, though in fairness, articles probably won't have been uploaded from the 70's on the internet so it could have been a huge thing. But what was their big plan? Seems all kind of pointless to me. Was freemasons in the 70's like the 90's satan panic? Maybe I'll find out their big plan in part two but I'm not reading it.
Paul descent into alcoholism is hard to hear, especially when they go drinking together.
Also, goshhh, things were rough and a lot of the staffs behaviour was abhorrent. I mean, prisons are currently awful due to budget cuts, yet these times were something else.
Also "I won't violate your rights if you do what I say the moment I ask it." made me hmmmmm. And the mentions of my authority was ick.
But the thing with the birth of their child and how they were treated were disgusting. That was a real horrible situation and they were treated callously.
I get the author likes John C, but wowww, nowdays he'd be inside the cell itself.
April 6, 2025
Not what I expected at all. Firstly, the author's story is quite old, set mainly in the 1970's. I've no problem with this, but I didn't expect it and when I first started reading I assumed it was more modern day until he got to a bit where he describes meeting Leslie Grantham in prison (Dirty Den to those Eastenders fans). I had to look it up and Grantham was in prison from late 1960's for 10 years! Secondly, the book gives the impression that it is about HMP Manchester (Strangeways), but the majority of the book is based on his experiences in Wormwood Scrubs in London. And lastly, I really wasn't expecting there to be a paranormal side to his stories. He spoke quite a lot about his experiences of moving beds and ghostly shadows, and his own psychic abilities. It was all very strange! I do like good memoirs of working in occupations such as this, but this one for me was not good! I've seen that there are 2 other books following this one, but I'm afraid I won't be reading those.
February 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book, didn't mind spirit talk being a bit of a woowoo tarot reader myself, and someone who had chronic premonitions as a child..it's in my conversation habits.. and I didn't mind occasional reminder to people , like which one they are as a fair few mentioned and there were points I'd be seeing/assuming it as one person ; pig shit guy say but it was actually another. It helped me to get myself straight with the story, not being a seasoned reader of books. Have downloaded the next 2 books
April 19, 2023
Good read, interesting to learn about the truth inside of the prison walls. Also a lot of repetition of things stated earlier in the book, but otherwise not a bad read and enjoyed learning about the life of a prison officer. Also from my hometown so had a bit of a connection to the author which was nice as I could picture all the places he spoke about!
December 6, 2022
This book was quite interesting in parts , but was not well finished at the end , just with a note it would continue in 2023, lead me to believe the prison service is not working as well as it should an honest story.
October 15, 2023
good
A good read but it’s almost two books in one. I didn’t expect the super natural element and as much personal information. Hope things have improved for the offices since these times
A good read but it’s almost two books in one. I didn’t expect the super natural element and as much personal information. Hope things have improved for the offices since these times
February 1, 2025
slightly uninteresting
generally it’s ok story telling, but the small snippets of stories seem to end just as you are thinking, right then, here comes a gritty story, not sure there is a story to be told.
generally it’s ok story telling, but the small snippets of stories seem to end just as you are thinking, right then, here comes a gritty story, not sure there is a story to be told.
March 21, 2025
Good read
Thoroughly enjoyed. Getting a glimpse of What Jihn went through as a prison officer.
Bit repetitive in places. Everytime dog was mentioned telling us it was Mary's or the address's of each parent etc got a bit much, but other than that was an interesting read.
Thoroughly enjoyed. Getting a glimpse of What Jihn went through as a prison officer.
Bit repetitive in places. Everytime dog was mentioned telling us it was Mary's or the address's of each parent etc got a bit much, but other than that was an interesting read.
December 26, 2022
This book was a fascinating look behind the doors of the prison service in the 1970s. Will definitely be buying the next one in the series.
March 13, 2023
A fair and reasonable account of prison life
in that time and told in the first person by
a person willing to put their name to it .
The ending was abrupt but am stimulated
to see how it all turns out in the end
in that time and told in the first person by
a person willing to put their name to it .
The ending was abrupt but am stimulated
to see how it all turns out in the end
June 12, 2023
Aunque no creo que cuenta toda la verdad es un libro entretenido porque paan muchas cosas y se lee con toda facilidad.
February 7, 2025
Really enjoyed hearing about life as a prison officer , the psychic bits was a strange addition
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews