Kevin John Simmonds was a young man who took pleasure in doing things which gave him a buzz. His early years involved stealing cars and joy rides. By 14 he was sent to Boys Town until he was 18. He then headed to Sydney where he committed break and enters as well as car theft, being sentenced to two years at Mt Penang Training School in which his criminal education was polished. Then ‘Simmo’ graduated being charged with three counts of armed robbery, 17 of breaking and entering and stealing 35 cars. He was sentenced to 15 years in Long Bay.

Simmo had no intention of serving those years and in October 1959 with the assistance of Leslie Newcombe escaped from Long Bay. In the act of stealing, they were fronted by a guard who they killed. Now it became a murder hunt. Les was quickly captured, but Simmo was more elusive, leading to the largest manhunt in NSW history, eluding the police for 37 days and making the front page of all the dailies. He was finally captured on the central coast among dense undergrowth, his feet torn to shreds and he was starving. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. The judge made an example of Simmo sentencing him to life in Grafton Goal.

This is a story of a chase but also of police corruption, from the detectives up into the hierarchy of the NSW Government and the brutalisation of prisoners, especially at Grafton. It is a tale that captivated the audience of its time and still has the power to do so today.

Reviewed by Anthony Llewellyn-Evans

You can listen to Michael Adams’ podcast, Forgotten Australia,
wherever you get your podcasts or on his website