David Wilson (born 23 April 1957) is a Scottish emeritus professor of criminology at Birmingham City University.
[1] A former prison governor, he is well known as a criminologist specialising in serial killers[2][3] through his work with various British police forces, academic publications, books and media appearances.
[2][4] Born in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, David Wilson was raised on a dairy farm outside Carluke, South Lanarkshire.
[1] Recruited directly from Cambridge, he joined Her Majesty's Prison Service as an Assistant Governor at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in 1984.
[3] In fact he was the Assistant Governor in charge of Finnamore Wood camp, a small annexe to HM YOI Huntercombe.
[1] Wilson has advised various police forces as a criminologist, and in 2006 was also involved in the Ipswich serial murder case, as an advisor to Sky News.
[4] Wilson acted as: Vice-Chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform (1998–2014); Vice-President of New Bridge; and Chair of the Forum on Prisoner Education (2000–2006).
[12] Wilson appeared on BBC Radio 4's Ramblings series on 1 October 2020, walking with Clare Balding from Wicken, Northamptonshire to Leckhampstead, Buckinghamshire whilst discussing his life.
In 2016 the TV drama Dark Angel attributed his book Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer as its inspiration.