Norman Parker served twenty-four years in multiple prisons across the UK, including the notorious HMP Parkhurst, after being convicted of murder in 1970. While incarcerated, Parker spent long periods of time in solitary confinement. He studied and gained an honours Open University degree, and published Parkhurst Tales based on his experiences in the prison. It became a best-seller, and he has published similar books depicting life in prison. In 2003, he gained a masters degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Surrey University.