Meet Steve Gallant, a man whose life took a dramatic turn when he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2005. Confined to the walls of HMP Frankland, a Category A Prison, Steve witnessed a world of chaos and violence that would change him forever. From the disturbing scenes of cell fires to gang battles on prison wings, Steve's early days behind bars were a stark wake-up call. Determined to break free from his own cycle of violence, he made a vow to never use violence again.

 

With an unwavering determination to turn his life around, Steve embarked on a journey of self-transformation, learning how to write, immersing himself in education and scripting and directing award winning plays. His thirst for learning led him to achieve a business degree from Oxford Brookes University.

 

But it was a fateful day in November 2019 that would truly define Steve's character. Attending a Learning Together event at Fishmongers' Hall, Steve found himself face to face with a terrifying threat. On his first day out of prison on day release, he was forced to break his vow as he confronted and fought armed-terrorist Usman Khan while holding nothing but a narwhal tusk. Following a lengthy battle, Steve eventually wrestled Khan to the ground on London Bridge, holding him there until the police arrived and shot him dead.

 

In October 2020, Steve was granted a Royal Prerogative of Mercy by Queen Elizabeth II, leading to his early release from prison in August 2021. A short while later, in 2023, he was bestowed with the prestigious Queen's Gallantry Medal, a testament to his bravery on that terrible day.

 

His book, The Road to London Bridge, documents his full story.

 

Today, Steve works as a fundraiser for a prison reform charity. He is also the co-founder of Own Merit CIC, a social enterprise that provides resettlement support to prison leavers who would otherwise be homelessness, helping them to safely reintegrate into society.

 

Steve Gallant's story serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how dark the past, how challenging the present, or seemingly hopeless the future, it is never too late to change and make a positive impact.