Iain Macpherson says making a new life for himself on the outside is all but impossible
13:38, 04 Jan 2026Updated 13:40, 04 Jan 2026
Iain says he sees no way of making it on the outside
A man who served 22 years in prison has shockingly revealed that he would prefer to return to jail than face the struggles of finding employment or housing on the outside. Iain Macpherson, 54, was sentenced to two life terms with a minimum of 12 years for crimes including murder back in February 1992.
Originally from Harrow, London, Iain was moved between 22 different prisons before his release in October 2014. At 41, he initially stayed at a hostel in Ealing, London, aimed at helping ex-prisoners reintegrate into society, before moving to Bedford with his then-girlfriend.
Despite spending three years applying for jobs in home refurbishment and personal training at eight Job Centres, Iain found no success. He even claims that staff told him there was “no point” in applying due to his criminal record, and his attempts to go self-employed were thwarted by unaffordable vehicle insurance.
After breaking up with his girlfriend, Iain began sleeping on a sofa bed at his mum’s flat in Hertfordshire in late 2016. However, anxiety and a bad back have made it even harder for him to find work. By 2023, he had to leave his mum’s place and now alternates between sofa surfing and accruing debt from hotel stays.
Iain Macpherson has spent a large part of his life behind bars
Despite hating his time behind bars, Iain has expressed a desire to return to prison just to have a roof over his head. Currently unemployed and living in Hertford, Hertfordshire, he said: “It would be easier just to be back inside, but without having to commit any crime.
“Prison is horrible, and the food is disgusting, but at least I’d have a roof over my head. It’s unsustainable for me in the real world I’m a huge burden on family, friends, and my fragile bank account – at least in prison I’d get secure accommodation and access to legal aid.
“It’s impossible out here unless I’ve committed an offence and I’m not willing to cross that line. Nobody wants to lose their liberty but with a solicitor and less stress I might get somewhere.
“If you’ve got a record like this you can’t escape it, no matter how much time has passed. When people find out about it you can see it in their eyes – that moment ends the relationship you had.
“I’d go for a job and say I have a conviction, as soon as they learn my conviction is for murder that’s it – no job. It’s impossible, so I’ve asked my probation officer just to recall me, but they said ‘no’.”
Iain Macpherson was handed two life sentences with a 12-year minimum term for crimes including murder in February 1991
At London’s Central Crown Court, Iain entered not guilty pleas to two murder counts and one attempted murder charge, whilst admitting to robbery and burglary. Following a fortnight-long trial in February 1991, he was found guilty of all charges except attempted murder, which was dropped – convicted under joint enterprise laws.
Joint enterprise allows conviction when someone planned or was present at a crime, or assisted or encouraged the perpetrator, even without directly committing the act themselves. His accomplice, then aged 29, admitted to the same charges as Iain and also received two life sentences.
Iain confessed: “I got in with the wrong guy and this all happened before I really knew what was going on. I seemed quite mature but was emotionally very young.
“We were reasonably comfortable and I’d had a private school education. This just goes to show that anyone can get on the wrong path and it’s very very hard to come back.”
Leaving school at 15, Iain worked alongside his dad in refurbishment. While in prison, he says he gained qualifications in gardening, first aid, IT, and personal training, as well as a GCSE in physiology, and GCSEs and A-levels in maths and history.
His journey took him through numerous prisons including Brixton, Gartree, Parkhurst, Maidstone, Sweelside, and Woodhill. He revealed: “I was young and impressionable, and I met gangsters, terrorists, cannibals, necrophiliacs – all sorts, it was very frightening.”
From October 2013 to April 2014, Iain resided in an Ealing hostel with 20 other former prisoners, all of them seeking employment. He stated: “It’s ridiculous. Everyone in the area knows where you’re from and why you’re living there, and they don’t give you any work. They call it rehab or reintegration but it isn’t at all. You’re not supposed to be in contact with other ex prisoners but you’re sent to live all together in a hostel.”
At the Job Centre, Iain claims he was informed they’d be unable to secure employment for him due to his criminal record, advising him instead to pursue self-employment. He recalled: “They said because of the length and nature of my conviction they wouldn’t be able to get me anything, even packing boxes.”
He acknowledged the harsh reality of his situation: “It made sense, if I was employing people and I had the choice I wouldn’t choose the person with a life conviction. Even when I got convicted I believed that murderers deserved capital punishment. Even though people with longer sentences are far less likely to reoffend.”
Iain Macpherson served 22 years in prison
Iain abandoned his self-employment aspirations after receiving a quote of £9,800 annually for insurance on his girlfriend’s Kia Picanto – a vehicle he maintains was worth merely £2,000. He explained: “I asked why it was so high and they said it was my conviction.”
The insurance company’s response offered little hope: “They said it would go down when my conviction was spent, but it never will be. As a private personal trainer I wouldn’t have to tell people I have a conviction, but I wouldn’t get any clients without being able to drive.”
Transport proved an insurmountable obstacle: “I tried using public transport but it was impossible. It was all very depressing and I gave up looking for work and learning to drive.”
Iain maintains he’s been denied housing assistance from the council on the grounds that he’s classified as voluntarily homeless. He now relies on Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), but claims he cannot afford private rental accommodation and is unable to obtain a reference.
He claims back problems and anxiety have left him unable to work. Recently, he borrowed £1,000 just to secure a hotel room. Iain explained: “Having a conviction for life makes it impossible to fit in anywhere. As soon as the local community find out about it nobody wants you there any more. People would rather cross the road than speak to me.”
Following his release, Iain remains on lifelong probation. He deliberately missed three appointments hoping to be sent back to prison, but the tactic failed.
He added: “I literally can’t get a foot in the door. I’ve not had a home since I was 19, how can I be intentionally homeless? I’m basically tarred, and I can’t blame people, it’s just how it is.”