Share
Australian True Crime
I lost my teens to heroin and sex work - Part 2
Season 1, Ep. 272
•
If you haven't listened to the first part of this story, you might want to go back and listen before diving into this episode. It contains a lot of background you need to know about Vanessa's own story, but it's also a unique insight into how one human being's life can be completely derailed by the intervention of another, particularly during childhood. Vanessa's story provides a perfect case study of what's known as the victim-offender overlap; which is to say most offenders of crime have been victims of crime first.
You can find Vanessa's music on Bandcamp here:
https://vanessavalentine.bandcamp.com/
https://thebambikills.bandcamp.com/
https://wearesophomore.bandcamp.com/
You can donate to St Kilda Gatehouse here: https://www.stkildagatehouse.org.au/
For ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content, join Australian True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts here: http://apple.co/australiantruecrime
CREDITS:
Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram
Co-Host: Emily Webb. You can find her on Instagram here and listen to her podcast Killer Content here.
Guest: Vanessa Valentine
Producer/Editor: Matthew Tankard
Executive Producer: Jacqueline Tonks
Recorded at a Hub Australia Media Studio. Find the workspace that's right for you at https://www.hubaustralia.com/
If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
GET IN TOUCH:
Send us a question or comment on this episode to be used in our "Episode Download" series: https://www.speakpipe.com/ATC
Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AustralianTrueCrimePod/
Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au
Australian True Crime is a podcast by Smart Fella Media. Your story matters and how you tell it matters even more.
More episodes
View all episodes
411. Shortcut: The surge of violence in Victoria's illicit tobacco market
11:23This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Over the past eight months, more than 30 tobacco stores in Victoria have fallen victim to a series of fire bombings due to a burgeoning turf war. Marta Pascual Juanola is a crime reporter for The Age, and has written a series of stories on Victoria's illegal tobacco industry.She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to talk about the increasing violence in this industry, and the surprisingly big players involved.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Marta Pascual JuanolaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains audio grabs from Channel 9 News.GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au410. The surge of violence in Victoria's illicit tobacco market
31:02Over the past eight months, more than 30 tobacco stores in Victoria have fallen victim to a series of fire bombings due to a burgeoning turf war. Marta Pascual Juanola is a crime reporter for The Age, and has written a series of stories on Victoria's illegal tobacco industry.She joins us on this episode of Australian True Crime to talk about the increasing violence in this industry, and the surprisingly big players involved.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Marta Pascual JuanolaExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains audio grabs from Channel 9 News.GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au409. Shortcut: Falling in love with a prisoner sentenced to life
13:59This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Ashleigh (not her real name) is a kind of woman we've all heard about many times, but don't often get to hear from.A couple of years ago, Ashleigh received a letter from an inmate who is serving a life imprisonment conviction for his involvement in a double murder. They soon fell in love with each other.Ashleigh joins us today to talk about their relationship, about the realities of courtship under the ever-present eye of corrections, and about her hopes for the future. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Ashleigh (not her real name)Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au408. Falling in love with a prisoner sentenced to life
50:49Ashleigh (not her real name) is a kind of woman we've all heard about many times, but don't often get to hear from.A couple of years ago, Ashleigh received a letter from an inmate who is serving a life imprisonment conviction for his involvement in a double murder. They soon fell in love with each other.Ashleigh joins us today to talk about their relationship, about the realities of courtship under the ever-present eye of corrections, and about her hopes for the future. For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Ashleigh (not her real name)Executive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au407. Shortcut: The Man Who Wasn't There
16:28This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. In 2011, A young indigenous man by the name of Zak Grieve was sentenced to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit.The murder of Ray Niceforo was commissioned by his former partner Bronwyn Malyschko, and carried out by her son Chris Malyschko and accomplice Darren Halfpenny.Grieve was originally supposed to be an accomplice to the murder too, but changed his mind on the night.Despite this, due to Northern Territory's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, Grieve was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years (eventually reduced to 12 years following a mercy plea).Journalist Dan Box has been reporting on crime for decades and was unexpectedly drawn into this story and family on a very personal level.He joins us to tell us about his new book "The Man Who Wasn't There" and the extraordinary man who emerged in Zak Grieve.Dan Box's "The Man Who Wasn't There" is available to purchase now.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Dan BoxExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains audio grabs from the documentary, "The Queen and Zak Grieve"GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au406. The Man Who Wasn't There
58:15In 2011, A young indigenous man by the name of Zak Grieve was sentenced to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit.The murder of Ray Niceforo was commissioned by his former partner Bronwyn Malyschko, and carried out by her son Chris Malyschko and accomplice Darren Halfpenny.Grieve was originally supposed to be an accomplice to the murder too, but changed his mind on the night.Despite this, due to Northern Territory's mandatory minimum sentencing laws, Grieve was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years (eventually reduced to 12 years following a mercy plea).Journalist Dan Box has been reporting on crime for decades and was unexpectedly drawn into this story and family on a very personal level.He joins us to tell us about his new book "The Man Who Wasn't There" and the extraordinary man who emerged in Zak Grieve.Dan Box's "The Man Who Wasn't There" is available to purchase now.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Dan BoxExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains audio grabs from the documentary, "The Queen and Zak Grieve"GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au405. Shortcut: Where is Australia getting its crystal meth?
16:59This is a "Shortcut" episode. It’s a shortened version of this week’s more detailed full episode, which is also available on our feed. Australia tops almost every other country when it comes to our consumption of meth, with billions of dollars of it arriving at our shores each year.Investigative journalist Conor Woodman joins us on this episode to detail exactly where all of this methamphetamine is coming from, the destructive path it takes to get into Australia, and the steps we can take for harm minimisation. Conor Woodman’s book “Meth Road” is available now, and can be purchased here.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Conor WoodmanExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au404. Where is Australia getting its crystal meth?
52:03Australia tops almost every other country when it comes to our consumption of meth, with billions of dollars of it arriving at our shores each year.Investigative journalist Conor Woodman joins us on this episode to detail exactly where all of this methamphetamine is coming from, the destructive path it takes to get into Australia, and the steps we can take for harm minimisation. Conor Woodman’s book “Meth Road” is available now, and can be purchased here.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Host: Meshel Laurie. You can find her on Instagram Guest: Conor WoodmanExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardGET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au403. Re-Issue: Annette Mason: Journey to an Inquest - #42
41:53November 2023 marks the 34th anniversary of the brutal murder of Toowoomba teenager, Annette Mason. For today's episode, we revisit one of our earliest episodes of Australian True Crime which featured an interview with Annette's sister, Linda Mason.For Support: Lifeline on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732GET IN TOUCH:Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Email the show at team@smartfella.com.au