Chopper Read was the king of the Melbourne underworld and claims he had killed up to 19 people – here’s the true story of the Australian criminal’s life in crime
Chopper, affectionately known as “Uncle Chop Chop” in Australia, was a character of many layers and contradictions.
Despite his reputation as a standover man, this criminal managed to charm millions worldwide.
He penned a children’s book, several bestsellers for adults, had his ears cut off in prison, and even featured on hip-hop tracks.
Chopper also dabbled in stand-up comedy and spent significant portions of his life behind bars, with one of his most audacious acts being an attempt to kidnap a judge at gunpoint. His vibrant life intrigued many, leading to a film about his escapades.
These are all verified facts about Australia’s most famous modern-day criminal. However, there were numerous claims about the man that were either exaggerated – often by himself – or entirely false, reports the Mirror US.
His autobiographies blended confirmed crimes with tall tales designed to enhance his already fearsome image. Chopper openly confessed to embellishing stories for fame, often quoting: “Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn.”
This echoes a similar sentiment once voiced by Mark Twain.
Chopper recognised that notoriety sold better than truth. His books and interviews catered to the public’s fascination with outlaws, boosting his reputation significantly.
Despite some critics, he reaped the benefits of his fame and was widely respected among diverse groups of Australians.
Mark Brandon Read, born on 17 November 1954 to an Irish-descended World War Two veteran father and a devout Seventh-day Adventist mother, had a troubled upbringing that led him to become a ward of the state at the tender age of 14. He was institutionalised in mental health facilities where he claimed to have been subjected to electroshock therapy.
Read’s life took a dark turn as he began his criminal career by robbing drug dealers, knowing they wouldn’t report him to the police.
He later claimed to have escalated to kidnapping and torturing members of the criminal underworld, using brutal methods such as blowtorches or bolt cutters to remove victims’ toes as a means of coercion for money.
Promotional images for his books, featuring Read lighting a cigar with a blowtorch or posing with two large handguns, underscored his menacing reputation. Despite his claims, he was never formally charged with torture.
Underworld figures like Sid Collins, whom Read later confessed to killing, accused him of torture. Victorian Police recognised Read’s violent tactics, but most of his convictions were for assault, armed robbery, and kidnapping.
Mark “Chopper” Read, one of Australia’s most notorious criminals, notoriously spent the better part of his life in jail, serving 23 years out of 58 for a string of crimes including arson, firearms offences, assault, police impersonation, and armed robbery.
The notorious Chopper’s murder confessions have always been a subject of intrigue. He cheekily revised his own kill tally down in a chat with The New York Times stating: “Honestly, I haven’t killed that many people. Probably about four or seven, depending on how you look at it.”
With death looming from liver cancer, Read admitted to 60 Minutes Australia somewhat enigmatically, “Four is all you’re getting… That’s it. I haven’t killed any more than that.”
Melbourne’s dark underworld sometimes saw other criminals silently nod as Read took credit for certain deaths he hadn’t committed.
Despite his violent past, Chopper Read’s reputation as Australia’s infamous antihero was as much about his knack for self-mythologising as it was about his real-life misdeeds—a blend of truth, hyperbole, and outright fabrication.