‘Every Little Helps’
Sunday, 26 July 2009
I received the wonderful news from my publisher, Scott Pack, whilst away on holiday that my paperback has been purchased by Tesco. It will be found in 491 stores across the UK from early August. Contrary to the company’s catch-phrase, this is a big help in getting my story to the mass market. Thank you Tesco!
Just wanted to say that whilst visiting my local tescos i noticed
Posted by mandi | August 12, 2009 10:31 pmyour book on the shelf,picked it up,read the back and brought
it.For two days solidly i haven’t been able to put it down!!!.
I would just like to say that i was appauled at the way you
were treated by the very people you looked up to and wanted
to serve,anyone i feel would’ve done the same thing as you
being put in that situation.I will be telling everyone about
your book and even passing my copy on to my friend who is waiting
to read it,i wish you all the best and a very happy future.
I also saw your book on sale in Tesco, bought it and have spent the last two days reading it. Amazing story which bought me to tears on several occasions. Can’t even begin to believe what you must have gone through, but am so glad you got through and are still getting there. I cannot believe that you were convicted and sentenced for simply protecting yourself in the course of a very hard job. You were let down by a lot of people, but I’m glad you had your family and friends which obviously helped you when you needed them most. Good luck in the future Michael and I wish you all the best.
Posted by Sharon | August 13, 2009 8:26 pmGreat book, an absolute disgrace the way you were treated. The police and judiciary should hang their heads in shame. The trial judge who presided over your case should never sit in an English court again!
Posted by michael | August 16, 2009 12:00 pmFantastic book. This is a nightmare that no decent law abiding person should ever have to go through. Your mum and dad should feel very proud of themselves. They obviously brought up a good son and were there for you in such desperate times. They are my heroes in this book. Good luck to you and wel done to your parents.
Posted by michael | August 16, 2009 12:06 pmMichael,
Posted by Ian Charnock | August 31, 2009 11:45 amI, like many others who have posted blogs, am an ex Police Officer and fail to understand how West Yorkshire Police or the CPS allowed you to be charged with a S.47 assault. Like many other Police Officers, who as part of their duties will come across violent members of the public, I have had to use “reasonable force” to effect arrests. On one such occasion I had to strike a very large male several times with my baton, as he had pinned my colleague to the floor and was attempting to gouge his eyes out with his bare hands. He had already committed a S18. assault on his sister. The baton strikes had little effect so I resorted to a swift kick in his genitals, whereupon he released his grip and was subdued. A local resident had seen this incident, as it had taken place in the middle of a street, and made a complaint to my bosses. The complaint was subsequently dealt with by the Complaints and Discipline Dept. and I was cleared of any wrong doing as the force I had used was reasonable in the circumstances (and having read your story I thank God for that). For you to have been charged with an assault for kicking someone who was giving you a severe beating is unbelievable. For the Judge to have allowed the jury to consider a lesser charge of common assault is unbelievable.
I don’t read books very often but just before my holiday I was walking round Tesco and was drawn to yours. On the first day of the holiday I had read it all (started at 9 a.m. and finished at 2 a.m.). I had tears in my eyes for most of it. The courage you have shown is an inspiration to us all. You can hold your head high, which is something that some of your ex-colleagues cannot do.
I have now passed your book to my 12 year old son in the hope that, should he wish to do as you did and follow in his father’s footsteps, he knows what he could be getting himself in to.
I wish you and your family all the best for the future and for a successful appeal. God bless you all.
Ian
i too seen your book in tesco just before i went away on hols. a great read and yes it is a very powerful and moving story. it was a total disgrace that you were convicted and surely questions still need to be answered to why you ended up on a charge and being convicted of one.
Posted by andy from coventry | September 9, 2009 11:22 amthe judge should be sacked!! good luck to you and your family and friends, you are the only ggod thing to come out of the book, and if more people were like you then the country would not be in the mess its in.
Hi, just finished reading your book, well written, informative and a real shocker.
Posted by ellie | September 14, 2009 1:39 pmI am an ex prison officer and i cant believe how complacent some of your officers were and how little support you got from them. Ive been told by several offenders that i have made their time bearable, and i have done my best for the vulnerable prisoners at all times. i am glad you had help from the officer in Armley, it makes such a difference doesnt it and after all its what they are paid to do,
Am so pleased that you have your life back on track, a new career and things have improved for you, you have nothing to be ashamed of, your head should be held high. When police are called to any inident they can never predict what will happen and i believe you acted accordingly, it is appalling that in your duty to protect the public that you were punished for also protecting yourself,, my best wishes for your future,,
Bought your book a couple of days ago from Tesco. As an ex con myself I find anyone’s story about their experiances in prison interesting but your book was absolutly fascinating and I read it in one go (reading in bed until 6am to do so) I have had some very low points in prison but I cannot even begin to comprehend what you went through, given your occupation.
Posted by john | September 19, 2009 1:27 pmYou have shown tremendous courage by enduring what you did and by rebuilding your life. I sincerly hope that one day you will have this conviction overturned and I wish you and your family well for the future.
My goodness, Michael. The same as the last post really. I saw your book by chance in Tesco, bought it, read it… well, couldn’t put it down really. The ‘law’ is unbelievable. My heart goes out to you x
Posted by Kay | September 25, 2009 2:17 pmMy wife bought me a copy in Tesco , Elgin. As a retired Cop I found it difficult set the book down before I reached the end even although I am not an avid book reader. Best of Luck for the future.
Posted by Bill Allan | October 1, 2009 7:26 amBest five pound i have spent in Tesco for a long time
Well Done Michael…as a serving officer i wish i had been your crew mate that night
Becky
Posted by Becky | October 4, 2009 6:57 pmMick
just read your book which I saw in tescos what a read well done on that front. Im a serving cop and know what it’s like dealing with violent people. I can say over the years I have been kicked in the face, back and groin area, spat at and threatened by men and women alike. Glad you made it and lived to tell the tale. best wishes.
kevin
Posted by kevin | October 6, 2009 12:07 pmMichael,
Like many of the others posting on this thread, I saw your book by chance in Tesco and, as a police officer, the title caught my attention. I started reading the book yesterday afternoon and had finished it by midnight, it totally captivated me.
I feel outraged on your behalf at the way you have been treated by the judicial system, and one of the low points of the book for me was the action of the female sergeant who helped to convict you. The judge, the sergeant and the man who accused you should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves, and I hope that they are now aware of the way you held your head high and got through the punishment with dignity, they are a disgrace to our policing and judicial system.
Your courage and determination have put a positive spin on a very harrowing tale, and the anger and sadness I feel on your behalf in relation to your experience is only overshadowed by the admiration I have for you. The police service have obviously lost a very valuable officer when they let you go, but I feel grateful to have learned of your story. Thank you for sharing your experience with us all, I only hope that I will never face the trauma you have overcome as I doubt I could ever have as much strength as you have demonstrated.
I’ve already recommended the book to loads of my colleagues and family, I hope you continue to be successful with your new career. Good luck for the future, you are truly an inspiration, and your family must be so proud of you.
Posted by Gemma, Northern Ireland | October 12, 2009 9:02 pmdont normally shop in tesco but the mrs wanted to pop in there last sat for sumin, cant remember what but im glad we went in there as i would neva have come across your book otherwise,brilliant read,couldnt pput it down.you were trually brave mentally putting up with what happened to you,i am more gobsmacked about the way you were treated buy cps and your employers ,that judge obviously misled the jurry somwhat,and buy giving you a custodial sentance what has he achived,id say all hes achived is giving me a good book to read.i wish the best for you and your family
Posted by terry | November 20, 2009 6:57 pmMichael
I finished “A Fair Cop” last night (having purchased from Tesco, so every little DOES help) and having just completed 30 years service this year, I’d LIKE to say I can ‘t believe how you were treated by the Service, however, I can and do believe it, every word.
Posted by Ronnie | December 3, 2009 11:09 amFortunately I managed to “do my time” relatively unscathed having only had a few relatively minor assaults and malicious complaints to deal with, but I do understand what an unjustified complaint can do to you. I have also seen a colleague dimissed having been convicted of an “assault” on a teenager, his crime was to have placed his forefinger under the boys chin and raise his head as he was a particularly truculent individual refusing his name and address when required, the officer was charged with an assault and after an enquiry dismissed, fortunately the the powers that be saw this for what it was and the officer was reinstated after 18 months or so. Personally I have not had anything remotely like that, or your predicament, to deal with and would not wish that on any officer.
During my service I have come across many many very good people and friends but unfortunately there are some real twisted B’s around, some they won’t bury, but just screw into the ground.
Reading the book I just wonder what the female Sgt was all about, was she an enemy, a career girl who would step on anyone to get where she wanted or was she just thick?
Anyway, Michael, I just wanted to say WELL DONE, on getting through all that you (and your family) had to endure, on getting your life back on track and on writing the book.
I wish you and yours well for the future and hope that eventually you get some justice and your name is cleared.
Hi Michael, I picked up a copy of your book in Tesco last week and zipped through it in no time – when I find a book that fascinating, I just can’t put it down! I’m not going to say I found it enjoyable – I don’t think that’s quite the right word – more like harrowing, disturbing, and upsetting. But I’m still glad I read it. You showed such strength of character to go through what you did and still come out with a positive outlook on life. I hope that one day your name will be cleared. Personally I think you should receive an apology from W Yorkshire police but can’t see that happening somehow!
Posted by Steve Clarke | February 3, 2010 10:10 am