Carlisle author's bogus claims feature in BBC programme

Paul Harrison, whose work includes books on Carlisle United, was said to have died in 2010.

But six years later we revealed he was still alive – and his reputation as an expert on serial killers was then debunked.

An investigation by The Sun found that Harrison had fabricated claims to have worked with the FBI and to have met some of the world’s most notorious criminals.

Harrison wrote books and gave talks about his supposed encounters – which later turned out not to have happened.

The story is covered in David Wilson’s Crime Files: Scams and Scandals, which is available to watch on the BBC’s iPlayer.

Criminologist Wilson looks into Harrison’s story, reflecting on how the author wrote books about serial killers and claimed to have worked closely with the FBI’s behavioural science unit in Quantico.

Reporter Robin Perrie from The Sun, who is interviewed in the documentary, looked into Harrison’s claims after attending one of his shows and finding his stories implausible.

FBI officials told Perrie they had never met Harrison from the time he claimed to have worked with them.

The reporter's subsequent investigation poured further cold water on the idea the writer had met infamous criminals such as Ted Bundy, Jefrey Dahmer and Peter Sutcliffe, who described Harrison as a "wazzock" who he had never met or corresponded with.

Paul Harrison, right, pictured at the Bloody Scotland writing festival in 2013 - three years after he supposedly 'died'. Criminologist David Wilson, left, has now made a BBC documentary about Harrison's bogus claims about his encounters with serial killers (Image: Alex Hewitt/Writer Pictures)

Wilson, in the BBC programme titled ‘Impostors’, said it was ironic that many of Harrison’s books featured in ‘true crime’ sections of bookshops when “Harrison himself is a fake”.

Perrie said Harrison’s claims “did not stand up to scrutiny” despite the audiences at his shows “lapping it up”.

The reporter’s probe also raised serious doubts over other Harrison work including a biography of Leeds United legend Billy Bremner in which the writer claimed to have had close access to the football star.

Bremner’s widow Vicky, though, said she had never heard of Harrison.

When Perrie knocked on Harrison’s door to confront him about his claims, he says the author “said ‘Oh no’, and slammed the door shut.”

Harrison then posted an “apology” on Facebook where he claimed to have been “introduced into sensationalising events by promoters who often sent out misleading blurb”.

He also claimed to be “weak and vulnerable and utterly useless at decision-making” and that he had been “lied about”, adding that his work was intended to “give victims a voice” but that he was “sorry” for “letting everyone down”. He added that anyone with tickets for his events would be refunded by the venues.

Perrie said he had spoken to one of Harrison’s former wives who estimated he must have made in the region of £100,000 from his theatre tours.

The writer has never been convicted of any offence connected to his writing on serial killers.

David Wilson said he had met Harrison once, at a writing festival, and had been left "with more questions than answers", despite Harrison namechecking him in one of his books.

A top psychiatrist also features on the BBC show to discuss Harrison's "web of deceit".

In 2016, an investigation by the News & Star found that Harrison was still alive despite reports having circulated about his death.

Messages reached United supporters groups that he had died in Egypt during an archaeological dig in 2010 – only for Harrison to reappear soon afterwards promoting books.

Harrison, we learned, had been involved in legal action at the time against Carlisle United, connected to the copyright status of photographs.

But Romford County Court was informed that he had “passed away” shortly before the case was due to be heard. The author did not comment when the News & Star attempted to contact him.

Harrison’s, whose books include the Carlisle United works ‘The Lads in Blue’, ‘Carlisle United: The Complete Record’ and ‘Carlisle United’s Cult Heroes’, saw his ‘true crime’ books pulled from sale by publisher Urbane after he had been exposed.

The episode of David Wilson’s Crime Files: Scams and Scandals on Paul Harrison can be viewed HERE