The world’s leading true crime event CrimeCon honoured one of the world’s leading criminologists Emeritus Professor David Wilson today, as TV Star Emilia Fox presented him with the inaugural CrimeCon UK Lifetime Achievement Award.

Emeritus Professor David Wilson said: “I am honoured to receive this award and delighted that my dear friend Emilia Fox took a break from filming the next series of Silent Witness to present it to me today.”

Following the presentation the Professor was interviewed onstage by Emilia, who is also his co-host in the true crime series “In the Footsteps of Killers.” From his first role as Assistant Governor (Under Training) at Wormwood Scrubs, to now one of the world’s most respected criminologists, Emilia questioned the Professor on his incredible life story. He described how an incident on the rugby pitch started his career in criminology which then led to him overseeing units that housed 12 of the most disruptive and dangerous criminals in the UK. And also, how he mentored twenty PHD students, which he found incredibly fulfilling.

He continued: “Some people sneer at true crime. To me, it is incredibly important. It holds a mirror up to society and asks questions that need to be answered and, to be frank, we need more grown-up debates about crime and the causes of crime.”

Nancy Baughen, Event Director of CrimeCon UK said: “There is simply no one like David Wilson and when it came to choosing our inaugural winner, it had to be him. CrimeCon UK is more than just an event; it’s a gathering of passionate individuals united by a commitment to justice and empathy for victims. David is a tireless advocate for change and reform, and we were honoured to have him share his story with our audience today.”