The armed robber turned runner helping young people go straight

From his parked automobile on the adjoining street, John McAvoy may see the Securicor van parked on the petrol station forecourt. For previous palms, the job was a doddle: Kevin would look ahead to the motive force to get out, stick a loaded gun in his face, and hijack the car. McAvoy would observe in a automobile to the rugby floor close by, they’d reduce the van open, steal the £250,000 inside after which disappear. However the guard was within the forecourt store and Kevin was nowhere to be seen. What was he doing?

Instantly a automobile spun out from the kerb and swung behind McAvoy’s. After which one other, this time in entrance, after which a 3rd down his flank, boxing him in. The police had been watching McAvoy and Kevin Brown case out jobs all week. However John McAvoy wasn’t prepared to return to jail.

He mounted the pavement and tore off by means of the again streets of Eltham, pursued by a refrain of sirens. McAvoy knew from expertise it was solely a matter of time earlier than a helicopter joined them – that will be sport over. He dumped the automobile in a housing property and made off on foot, ultimately coming to a courtyard of garages: a lifeless finish. Dozens of armed officers poured by means of the bottle neck. This time McAvoy would get a double life sentence.

That was in 2005. The John McAvoy sitting in entrance of me now could be a Nike-sponsored triathlete and holder of a number of world data. A one man case examine that character shouldn’t be future, as a result of character is revealed by alternative. And he needs to pay it ahead: within the Alpine Run Mission he’s serving to 13 deprived younger folks remodel their lives by means of sport, mentorship and his personal unbelievable instance.

In collaboration with the charity Youth Beyond Borders, McAvoy is main the group by means of a six-month programme that can culminate with them racing within the gruelling Extremely-Path du Mont-Blanc. They’re the primary cohort in what he intends to be a a lot bigger venture – 100,000 younger folks from deprived backgrounds in cities throughout Europe getting out into nature to go path operating by 2027.

McAvoy has matched individuals with elite coaches and affords his personal inspiration in weekly on-line checkins. In Might individuals gathered for a coaching camp within the Peak District.

“Among the children had by no means been out of town earlier than,” he tells me. One in all his expenses, Nimrah, an eighteen-yearold from a household of Kurdish refugees in Newcastle who runs in a scarf, had by no means even been on a prepare. “When she obtained to the Peak District, she was completely alight. I can’t think about what she’ll be like when she sees Mont Blanc.

John stems from South London, the place the McAvoy identify is notorious. John’s uncle, Micky McAvoy – AKA ‘the nutter’ – masterminded the 1983 Brinks Mat heist, one of many largest robberies in British historical past. When the police got here searching for the gold, they paid John’s mom a go to, an officer lifting child John out of his cot to see if any loot had been stashed below the mattress.

After his father died earlier than he was born, the closest male position mannequin McAvoy had rising up was Billy Tobin, his mom’s ex – and one other legendary armed robber. Tobin’s launch from jail after a 16-year stretch reads because the inciting incident of McAvoy’s life.

Billy drove a Porsche. Billy had an condo on the Champs Elysées. He had the present of the gab and the ineffable hardness of a person who had as soon as witnessed his personal father being murdered in a pub. Folks knew Billy. He exerted a powerful gravity.

Billy taught John how one can depend cash. He taught him to by no means carry a cell phone. To by no means discuss in automobiles or in homes, to at all times cowl your mouth while you discuss outdoors. To by no means have something in your life which you could’t simply stroll away from. He talked to him about theft as class battle. “The system f*cks the working man, we f*ck the system,” he mentioned.

At 16 years previous, within the automobile park of The Plough pub in Dulwich, John purchased a sawn-off shotgun from a Turkish gangster. By 24, John was within the excessive safety unit in HMP Belmarsh awaiting trial for the botched theft of that Securicor van in Eltham.

“It was me, a man that had been convicted of a contract killing, the 21/7 suicide bombers, and Abu Hamza,” John explains. Abu Hamza – hate preacher, hook for a hand – gifted John a multipack of Weetabix and a replica of the Koran by means of a welcome.

McAvoy was moved to HMP Full Sutton the place he spent most of his time on the cellphone to associates, planning his escape. Spain, false identification – the works. Till he acquired information that his finest buddy had died in a police chase as he fled from a theft within the Netherlands.

The story made the Information at Ten. “They confirmed a nonetheless from a CCTV digital camera, simply earlier than somebody sprayed paint on the lens. I may see his eyes by means of the balaclava: I knew it was Aaron,” he tells me. “From that second I knew I needed to get out of this poisonous world. I used to be pissing my life down the drain.”

To get away from unhealthy influences he spent as a lot time as he may within the gymnasium, on the rowing machine. A jail officer, Darren Davis, noticed the occasions John was churning out and got here to him with a bit of paper, outlining varied British and world indoor data. He provided to get the mandatory permissions and supervisions to assist him break them. Inside 18 months, McAvoy had demolished the lot.

“With out Darren there could be no ‘me’. He’s a outstanding human being,” McAvoy says, with palpable reverence. To at the present time, Darren has by no means missed one in all his races.

The Alps maintain particular significance for McAvoy after he turned obsessive about the Tour de France in jail. He now lives and trains in Alps d’Huez. “I wish to assist different folks expertise this place,” he tells me. “I wish to unlock doorways for these younger folks to see how huge and exquisite the world is. To point out them that it’s obtainable.”

McAvoy is ebullient when he talks about his proteges however has a particular tender spot for David, a 20-year-old Mancunian. David grew up in care and had bounced between varied juvenile detention centres earlier than he discovered operating by chance, after being chivvied into it by his keyworkers at a safe unit. It modified his life.

I wish to unlock doorways for these younger folks to see how huge and exquisite the world is

It was by means of a operating membership that he met Terry, a coach, who would go on to foster him together with his spouse. David has gone all in: thrice every week he sleeps in an oxygen tent in his bed room, replicating the air at altitude. “He’s phenomenal,” raves McAvoy, recognising the uncanny similarities of their tales.

The sensation is mutual. “I didn’t go to jail like John, however I used to be positively on my manner. Getting back from all-time low, he’s a really inspiring man,” says David. I ask him what he needs to attain from the venture? ‘I wish to be an expert runner. I wish to get sponsorship, like John …” David pauses, runs a hand by means of his thick brown hair.

“And I wish to get my story on the market. Being in care is so powerful. I’ve seen so many children get damaged by the system. I wish to present children that there’s gentle on the opposite aspect should you simply hold going. You’ve simply obtained to maintain going.”

Fundamental picture: James Mitchell