A CONVICTED murderer who was a key figure in the Strangeways riots says he hopes his new book will deter young people from a life of crime.

Alan Lord has written a book named 'Life in Strangeways: From Riots to Redemption, My Thirty-Two Years Behind Bars' with his partner Anita Armstrong to mark the 25th anniversary of the prison takeover.

Mr Lord, who now runs a gym in Radcliffe, spent 32 years in prison after being convicted of murder following a botched robbery.

He was originally sentenced to 15 years for the murder but was given added time behind bars for his role as one of the leaders of the riots.

He was eventually released in December, 2012, not before several prison escapes, including one in 1993 and one from an Astley Bridge police cell in 1990.

In the book, Mr Lord said: "I am not writing this book for profit, publicity or the respect of other prison inmates — past or present — who may think I'm some kind of hero for my involvement in the HMP Strangeways riots.

"Back then, I was only trying to make the public aware of what was going on behind closed doors, of the inhumane treatment and brutalising of prisoners, and the lack of respect shown towards their families.

"By writing this book I hope I can change the path of young people who think a life of crime pays, when all that will happen is that they will serve a long time behind bars, leaving their loved ones and families devastated."

Mr Lord was a visible presence during the riots, holding up signs and messages while stood on the prison roof, which hit the headlines across the country.

He says that they were inevitable and represented a protest against the treatment of prisoners, including the "slopping out" policy, whereby several prisoners shared a bucket as a toilet.

Mr Lord was arrested by a riot squad in the prison two days before the end of the riot, and was taken to Astley Bridge police station.

He describes the security as "lackadaisical", and when he was being taken to have a shower Mr Lord says he was amazed when he saw a set of keys had been left on the window ledge.

He hid the keys for five weeks because he thought it was a "set-up", and managed to escape from the prison in the early hours of June 12.

Mr Lord travelled to Liverpool in a bid to seek refuge with a friend, but was re-arrested after four days on the run while trying to board a ferry to Ireland.

The book, published by John Blake Publishing, is available now.