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BACKFROMTHE
Nick Leeson was the city trader with the world at his feet.
Then
btew f860m and sank Barings Bank. A decade on
he has a newiob, but has he tearned the art of humitity?
WordsbyEamonnO'tleilt PhotographsbySimonMurplty

COVERSTORY
hree red-fac€d Inshnen
ed the Irish n€die udmtanlablv - went
mtoatsenz] aeah they all hmed uP md thev
all orked me Lhe sme que,lions he sals
d€ 'gnorine the hig-screen
Tv match doninatins the
-
hotel br od sawhng at a 0)dv lulLdoinstneiriob, L\ough I ddel
SEue in l,herridst inste,d The stud I lie jomabst! IIe !"dses 'Eat€
!;eary lrlo,clutchinsrh. n{k. or them ra.kins aees teldng my picLw thougn
then 6eer botdes like batons Dd
bddds oi tall sLook with guts There.re two l.mou5 idages .ssociated
uduc$stullyhdden undd loose Mtn Ireson In tie 6rst, he ! wwing a tellN
sbirrs, hawe recocnised Nick
Ixeson. He is lardlv jn.onspicuols
rd blacl 'etucall] ,bped bdingFck€t with
hscomour'! nme adings Balrl' - on the
The nm who c.ashed e ndk€r al bacl. Hi i; smilins, fiddlng witl a pen his
one end orwhar used to be c.!€d th€ iace red dd b.ming s he sits bv a rorv ot
Bntrsh Empir dd i.now rebdd_ cn.,-r994 !late-of the_trtred ina lemral5
Ee looks like a would_be "Mster of th€
sc his cueerut the o$er isn rvour average
' Univese", $e desdption nsedbyTon wor€
b;.$rde. H,mrteho$.loudoini he ers
in t'is ndel The Bontue oftle vmities, {hich
Nhenhe 5ee! me Evertd egoodv-"an?'
dedls witi ti€ hub.s ola N@ York trader
lL qas tei yeaF aeo lhallle plastereis lon
Yet the ohotoqriph Ie. The original iruge
tson wadod bbtzed hs wsY thJough the
@ntaineit$r ;Uscu6. relow hdes, who
hadins muLets in 5insaPoft, losme hb@ds
vere hdging ovshis sbould.r ln the veEion
olnillois otposds en roule rd then weft
@oDlekrN it v$ een used @ the @v€r oI
on Lhe M Lhrouel ErcPe, seruing ime bad
;n;djtion ofrreson s book, Roet nad*
in tI. Far East betore reLdMg Lo tne L^
he looks isolated, alo.e, bui he savs h€ Nas a
No\v 33 hehswshed uP wilh aneq*ile a
social dimal, ar leasl on ihe sudace. sdl
new I'Ie Md a neq job in Galtr e) jn the *ea
h€ .ever iold myone _ not even his th€n wiJa.
.rlrlMd. lut he stillsouds lile a IADA
Lisa - about his professional sins. tle neler
trained actor imDe6onabng what he Lhinls a
erclued to h{ ;r his ftiends the houble he
vorldng_clss bov done good drenbad,mjghi
somdLle his lvords, in low tones, !!poutor v; in: .ot dd it @ i@ lat€.
A nring srert A$ngs, Leeson had been
bs mouth rn a Lmhling 'inc{ong toiienl
aDlointed eenera manager or the oank s
Imtue rodnev Eon O'U Fooh ed Hoces
h;iftetrad;s subr,l,"" in s,nsapore rh.
De.6medbv &nn€t} lrMash se rmiles in
,enior nmaseB lru(led M, md ne voryeo
; tkeable vav s he ta]}s. dd E edY to be
w hour iaGrference fron Lo.don ltis
&ud, but tou set rhe f€ebe he En1 lating
nst*e, bsic.ly, vE b t,l'e too msv ritks
atenuon Fe s had enoud olthe nedia lor
tolblem ions ofp@ds ofthe banlt monev
$isweeLatle4t ud is a bit ted-up.
o. Ixsh dlk deal5 on tne Tor.ro stock ffikel
Witlour taving $aiL€d lor a rePlv to.his
Ee ;ered uD his lo$es by hiding then in a
neetinp he Is one €ve back on the rootN
sDdiallvcpatedeco@tnmbered88888 a
;d d;tnd on hisslackBerrvdigit,l orgM_
6re c;nqdeEd luckv in china
ker His anenrion wil be div€rted seaem] _when
m .aJrhqual€ lat the Iapdese .itv of
iines dlring our interview whic! sh€tches
(obe on loualy 17, 1995, Japmese snres
rcro$dsftemoon ttone pomi to.effpr€
vent i.to fteefall. leavinq keson in big
he q'I suddeily jum! to his feet wtrl ob
trouble, Despente to daw back m)ting he
toMrdsamdowddsund sbineour ot 't
corid, he took €ver mo.€ audacious nmddl
tugit mu d ne punchs aL-lus Blec'lBerr],
cdbles They faled On Febtuary 26,199s
his brM rs locused on m oter ora tucEbve
hedecded it qs tine io disapled Together
aneFdinneFspealuengagement
Eong
slh Lisa. he packed hi! ca'e dd leli hi'
Kons On one hdd iLsaI ! bil rude on the
sineaDore a@ilrrent before deM leading lb.
other, n e rnle hesbefchonest Reheshingly,
iL! nol aperfomMce - or a1 ledtnot d Mal-q;ia dll then Empe He lefrrrehind hin
r shortfall of e860m tbat $ourd caus. the
obvious one.
"l ve been doing Lh. medra d
couao,e oI the 23o_verold bor*, dd lhe lo$
w€ek. so ... he draNk lhe sentence is lett
deElin(in de etler'rten hetaMs dd rubs nfn;re thma$ousodiobs.
The otler fanous inaee shovs Leesod
bs 6€1he mesase k ob'io6
Ne&ina thoueh Frs*im Airporr folowine
Nearbr in t}e bar' enjoving Dnch.are
hjs arest. In that DichF he is weujng a g@n
r ccson s ns qife Leona, a sldlrug ddk_
,wea|shln md tbseb,I cap ttrned bacr_
haned lnsh be,utiod, Iis sbpdildr€n Alea
\dd5 t oka Ltde.loserddlou U*e what
6'. md t.n-vesold lqBtv, dd lhecouPles
sens to be a snirk or lns face
o\mcNd,eight montn{ld Mac}ensvf tron€
nade that nme d!, he eyswilx a shrug
They redehcltful Jnethin atanjgrklub
m !iar1o!d If,oE e*pltns Lee,on hinsetr
sils snendy in lis white Nike rminiig shoes'
laded d4ienq FM. Md lrght btu€
I?@n r,' Fn toD, roD His h@d hed s B shaved Dlo into a $f
"ln
sdbmea, 6ecu*la@d skull the
;nars I ve a very lad com!'ovei 'he c!ffa*
A i;. r'"e ner $e fdnni he susqesk wa nd'
i;; quiekr r@ of tie roklio raiL.
H.ad; Lms we wark throush the
sui t hal] A couPle ofbusine$nen
do double_tales Leeson ienores
BfrH.nq$$*;$f;",,"1#
ofi qucklr, satug ou chai h,d @uPd hm to
drive the Mons qay uP a one w,Y s@et r
Msastuqeqnpeforsomeone whohas-no
*""";tended taded oFbs nde ror
L rbe best pdt ot six yea6 since being
releard lrom Fil in SingaPote
wlrre he sened lhree dd a hd
' yeaB ofa six-yeai senren.e
While in piison h€ developed
, 6cer of the colon: he saYs he
is 'living with" co@r_at the
none , as oppded to bawg
Followi.g tris release fron
' rail tfeson be@e soFe
'The
Lhins of a &lebnq
I hds m goine to hav. to
I set @ed to ne goi4 to
| 0 rHs HERALo MicaziE r.ol G

'*l/
h.crus. in th. pa{ I onhrmnhcd lar a dqv
or soereryrnonlh lonrke nroner. hesats
\rith r rnilc. Thnl ndhl] vnnishnig rrr
nrlolved publi. sr*kine.. ilr..n.r dinne,
cn.uir: hcn S.dcuhr\' lopular wilh l.an
cjallnnsand lesal.ompnies. he srrs. rnd
c.n err. enoreh.roner l. one nishl to hn
hnn and hn larnil!3 m.nil IlGoltnin(lire
xtih.s.onringsr.nnsr.h. I\nrlrpmrnrlh.
Nrilesachequc r ll,e liarltLorn,.. ,\i
thc ncnrbn.frhis h. s.ril.s xlrin ]l.likp!
rh:rli.p. an.ls. d. rheNpLlhpeled !liier
'Peoplesopn o. oinrs c1ftig6 onrc tl,fr'rc
hcirdm. sp.!k. l]e sirvs
I .sL iihe dvc. fools u.cotr,liri!I,1. ri,onr
anr.ifn errlons nespp'ns u..rl.ii.s Ltl
\nv h. rvoul{l I gilchinr rhccxrmfle oirlre
nnm., g.re,n.renr mi.isre, ld Prorirnro.
NhoNas v,!shmcd of hisnrisd..dsvirhih.
c.]l-s l clvistiie kool.r hlc.nnjin,ndncLl
in rh. nlnr s.Rndxl rh:ihcdcloipd Lc lire
lo.hrity \!.k in lhc eiderd ofLond.n Iis
Rn.itr.m..\anr c olsclfn3qcllxii.n. lrrr
l-eeson s rea.tior shoul.l le rnrersrnrs \\,1ixr
docs hc thint ofthc old tu.hbncd noii.n of
beine ashmed 1or ptrrrli. siJr. ann ntiDn,s 1,r
ii lN.lr.npingou olf rLlic liler
''Incan. hc sa$ Conre on.I Nent tujnil
lsleashmedol\n,nrl,sdnl' H..i{h. l lr.
Ls hviich$ rnd h.n.rcs . rl,e !lp.drjo(
hotcl bver "j fl ror,Lrv ennJanls\c.t t.
er.nh,rlL!Fplies .nnvei,.g r qrsnb. il,xi
Th. rerliiy.ll eeson's advenlLr. \ [ hi\
emplareisu\h isihain. \'rs,.5ronsihle lirr
lle l$s ol r.200jin}:j{,lN h{ld hr ppople Nho
proLrblv n.r.r so mu.h xs rhorghr ih.nl
.o,nnitting. dishonest proli\sn,.rlr.t nr
Rarings n.n. \'as ere.rnalr sold lor n
noninallee oI91 l. x Drtlh ()mtanl. \'hn.h
reccntly {opt.d disflrrinr ii on rl,e JJonloJ
ns buildi.es Rrrmes. Nl,i.t drred Lnclt r)
liliJ. Las !ann|.d Lom r mr*.r n .n.e
Ir,
9i;
. hrs bool ttDAu. lrrJcr 1,..s.tr
dcR:.ib.s ho\r he ...!d.re{l .lon,s r
lteRqjs Pe..in . x r.Lr.... trrr1,.. i$,.
, sii.ouseres slar.nr{ Lrm.{l 11(r\ir., nl
Nhich th. i.ad.hrrr.r., i b' ri)r'+n,tro
dccid.s rh. prr ir .1 rL..e\! i!ir xll n s
..:.k.dnpro le.nd t'1,.s l,is,\rn (l.rrh l\
.lro\vnn)c In:005. rh{,r.m tl.rncr l-eiqi
]ts hcc.nre shorthdd lor ,b dnpl{n .. {'.\
ingupona..lo$xl scale |elor.eritn{hadiir
pursred Lr rhc aurh.riri.5 | peso. hrs
bp.ome hiso\)prn.blnre.Lur.l.n r thinLn,
li.lldsccondhc sn.iNxrc.nhn rler r\rd
he lTo\ls hec!. 5lrlluse lhe publiclFn,n oI
"I rhought.N iptoini.lenr Iirh Grhur
unircd \.uld h{ Jor a .lxr or hfo in llF rird\s
mdthc.lad.ori. lip srvs JDsrea.l h.l,x.t
the palies |dr. f.on nc.n.x 3ll Nee[ I
.r.,n.l cvpn h.n r CLr_v lronr Po.tusnmll.r.
rp lor e, inl.n nN i\'lr.nlr..ired .n \rrlr
p.,irgi ( (hal t tltrlt I \cn{ ih.r..f..l;'
n Loli.l!! ,\lthouen lr rs (lF i,crerlnirh
adnrnable al ldml,. h. .r,n b. ...r prph
lcig.inq thn.ro.lenl lI. Ino\. nx]rc rhrn
r.I..p li.\r l,n rin,s rillrt.sds rrr.nr,.n
'lhelFsNillrhvalsL.inrsrn.d,nhinl
.lre..Lthe!hldacnrialrol.nrn?rlnrsh rr
Hn lcgenn ls rirrtherenh..cen Lr s.ual
olh€r h.lo.s Sincs th.r. \'rs ,no,. rh:n I
$hifi oI mis.ranrgemenr rbout his b.${,s
acbons |llr.l'c rrnt k, i:nl ..rrnl Rrines -
Clo(kwise lrom main picture, Ni.k Leeson ar
FranktudAnpod f otlow nq his arr6i in 1t95;
rhe MaereroltheUnivorse' inhisslriped
rrad€r'sja(kel; Ewan Mccre9oras Leeson in
thefirh Rosue I.ader; LeesonsIndwile, Lisa
r& F rH!'.i^rorr.r' rf 11

COVERSTORY
> ex€cutiv€s were disciplined bv the llw.iar
authoritie, fcfailtgtostoplin his *orv h5
been adoDted as d emple ro.othet M
who msni onsidd bki,gprchisHindlv wirh'
out eminins thetr tfle sue noEleTnd{
- botJr the b@L dd dd lhe 1999 hln ol lJ'e
sme nmq slrrilg E{d Mccregor - kePt
hs 5Lorv in Lhe pubLic eve The epiogue
invoLtrl trs dF'rcing hm )ner reklatiom
n'rlced of his innde[tv wit] seEha girk
dded erh sDice to lhe vhoie a$enihis @cer
d'aenois sa;e rl back a humd dimension
N r-k tFso; s ljfe s a

ii:"."T*:S"""H:iif"iTt5.",+",*9'
,_",j*" *.1*, ,*l.i,, I shrted
l*,ni* bawling my
Tfti#',,Ti;1il;';iill*# eves oui. Alt
I nxl;"-P"';::l'J$s;'."; these chitdren
lHi*i""'.Tr;#.'y6';:*?:ixH:,1 are playing
H"1*,?i:fr:LT,'::;ifiJ#ipliTi around me and
iust moth€r shav€n-herde.l. sonewbat
;;,r,,-Jii i,;;;;;;e ;;:;,"'ii;Til:iil stvle theit - . .
mOtheIS
or srgnt.
ilf,f:ffttll";*:,l:f ;.rtrl i:r arc staring
"ffi ig"ii#fli:ilril]#.Bi.i and therc |
H:""ffi;il"-r# :il,*T.:L,inr,
am, weeping
il:i::; i,." :,1:::i:i: :i,:i::;'i::'"li about life'
noney I m aliord to lose. '
So, despite the fact he n bgendary for bringins
doM a barl thar had stood for nor tlo
tlvo centuies, be isnt bmed ftom rradine in
dy shate or fom? He lools stanled at the
sheer naivety of the questionj it! alnost 6 if
Ixs inrellsen@ hs ben usulred Hepr6er.
takes, deepbreath rd then l€rs ioM d.
sniUlg that roguis}ly chaming ed insterly
lileablesnileof his.'No.of colrse Innot
bmed," he sys. "Anyhow, I neo. cone on.
Th.s€ days no-one lctuaUy knows who's
behind o online hading lrdsactjon m}1vat
And withour even sroppins to pondel ha
hms to tle big s.€en bd url4 ihe line t]rar
vil punciuat€ tle nelt chapt€r ol the Nick
Ireson story: wllat's ihe score?" r
Contemporary
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