One of Chapman's "Jelly Gang" crimes was carried out with the help of James Wells Hunt, whom Chapman met during a stint in prison. The gangs utilised gelignite to gain entry to safes, leading Chapman and his associates to be known as the "Jelly Gang". He became a safecracker with London West End gangs, spending several stretches in jail for these crimes. He slipped into fraud and petty theft and, after several run-ins with the law, finally received his first civilian prison sentence, two months in Wormwood Scrubs for forging a cheque. Ĭhapman returned to Soho and spent some time working casual jobs, from barman to film extra, but his lifestyle outstripped his earnings – gambling debts and a taste for fine alcohol soon left him broke. On release, Chapman received a dishonourable discharge from the army. After two months the army caught up with him, and he was arrested and sentenced to 84 days in a military prison ( glasshouse) at Aldershot. After nine months in the army, having been granted six days of leave, he ran away with a girl he met in Soho. Chapman enjoyed the perks of the uniform, but soon became bored with his duties. Īged 17, Chapman joined the Second Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, where his duties included guarding the Tower of London. Despite being bright, he regularly played truant from school to go to the cinema and hang around the beach.
The family (Chapman was the eldest of three children) had a reputation for disobedience, and Chapman received little in the way of parental guidance. His father was a former marine engineer who ended up as a publican in Roker. ( June 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ĭhapman was born on 16 November 1914 in Burnopfield, County Durham, England. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. This section needs additional citations for verification.
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