Publisher pulls book by former Carlisle Utd author after 'fake' storm

Urbane Publications also said it would donate any profits from a book by the writer to charity after serious questions were raised about the authenticity of his work.

They are also seeking further "clarification" on the stories before deciding on potential further action.

Harrison's book 'Mind Games', published last year, is based on his apparent work with some high-profile serial killers.

Revelations in The Sun this week cast doubt on whether Harrison had in fact met several of the individuals he has written and spoken about.

Hampshire-based Urbane Publications today released a statement after being contacted by the News & Star last night.

It said: ‘You may have seen the article on the Sun website (12th July) calling into question the veracity of Paul Harrison’s claim to be an experienced criminal profiler.

"Like everyone who worked with Paul Harrison, the attendees to his talks and the readers of his books, we are very concerned by these revelations and are currently seeking clarification before deciding what further action to take.

"However, with immediate effect we will be withdrawing Mind Games from sale and endeavouring to remove all stock and details from every relevant retail channel.

"We will also be donating any profits we have secured thus far from the sales of Mind Games to charities that help and support victims of violent crime."

Publishing director Matthew Smith added that the questions cast over Harrison's authenticity had "come as a complete shock".

Harrison's author profile, and his book, have now been removed from the Urbane website.

It is the latest development after it emerged a series of talks planned by Harrison had also been cancelled.

The former policeman Harrison claimed to have met high-profile killers such as the Yorkshire Ripper, and worked with the FBI.

The Sun, though, suggested such claims are dubious, with ripper Peter Sutcliffe claiming never to have met Harrison and describing him in a letter as “an absolute charlatan” and a “wazzock”.

An associate of Reggie Kray, meanwhile, said Harrison was not with him during his dying days as he had claimed.

The News & Star, meanwhile, can reveal that some of Harrison’s football books are also now under question.

One, called Keep Fighting, on the Leeds United legend Billy Bremner, was published in 2010. In interviews to promote the book, Harrison claimed to have been a close friend of the iconic player, that they exchanged Christmas cards and he had completed the book - which is said to feature interviews with Bremner - at the encouragement of Bremner’s family.

But Bremner’s widow Vicky, 76, said: “I’ve never heard of this book and never heard of this man.

“I have copies of all the official books and that’s not one of them.”

She added: “He’s not on my Christmas and birthday list and I still keep in touch with Billy’s friends.”

The News & Star has invited publishers Black & White to comment.

Harrison has regularly given talks on the subject of serial killers and was due to appear at the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, last night, but the event was shelved.

The venue said they had been contacted by a representative of Harrison to say all his talks were being cancelled.

He also had a number of talks arranged through the Funzing website. One of the listed venues said they would be checking with Harrison’s representatives in light of this week’s reports. Funzing have not yet replied to a request for comment.

Other venues set to host Harrison’s crime talks yesterday confirmed they would no longer be taking place. The Belfast Empire announced that a scheduled talk in October had been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

The Glee Club, who were set to host Harrison in November at three different venues, said: “These events have been cancelled and we are in the process of refunding all customers.”

Harrison previously claimed to have worked in the USA as a criminal profiler in the 1980s and 1990s, including a time he would have been in his early twenties.

The Sun, though, this week quoted FBI agents who said they had no idea who he was, and that his claims to have interviewed serial killers such as Ted Bundy, Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer were “false”.

They also quoted an ex-wife who said the first time Harrison had visited America was in 1999 for a Loch Ness Monster event.

The controversial revelations about the author follow the bizarre episode when Harrison reportedly “died” in 2010, at the time he was about to take Carlisle United to court in a row over the copyright of photos. Romford County Court were informed he had “passed away”, and so the case was never heard.

This followed emails to fellow Carlisle supporters that claimed Harrison had died on an archaeological dig in Egypt in August 2010. We revealed in 2016, though, that he had reappeared months after the aborted court case to promote new books.

Harrison's website and Twitter account appeared to be down yesterday. He has not responded to our request for comment.

The Doncaster-based writer, though, wrote a lengthy Facebook post in which he said he had been “introduced into sensationalising events by promoters who often sent out misleading blurb” and this was something he had to “live up to”.

The post did not refer to the content of his books.

Harrison also claimed to be “weak and vulnerable and utterly useless at decision-making” and that he had been “lied about”.

He added that his work was intended to “give victims a voice” but that he was “sorry” for “letting everyone down”. He added that anyone with tickets for his events would be refunded by the venues.

“I’ll be back when I’m better and mentally able,” he added.

Harrison’s books on Carlisle include The Lads In Blue, Carlisle United The Complete Record and Carlisle’s Cult Heroes. He has also written a biography of the ex-United manager Bob Stokoe.