Gregory david roberts biography for kids

Australian writer and bank robber (born 1952)

For other people with similar names, see Greg Roberts (disambiguation).

Gregory David Roberts (born Gregory John Peter Smith; 1952^[1]) is an Australian author best known for his novel Shantaram.

He is a former heroin addict and convicted bank robber who escaped from Pentridge Prison in 1980 and fled to India, where he lived for ten years.

Life

Roberts reportedly became addicted to heroin after his marriage ended and he lost custody of his young daughter.

To finance his drug habit, he turned to crime, becoming known as the "Building Society Bandit"^[2] and the "Gentleman Bandit", because he only robbed institutions with adequate insurance. He wore a three-piece suit, and he always said "please" and "thank you" to the people he robbed.^[3]

At the time, Roberts believed that his manner lessened the brutality of his acts but, later in his life, he admitted that people only ga