Manchester Mind Magician Alex Smith aka Celebrity Hypnotist Jonathan Royle vs The System
The Fight to Expose Britain’s Hidden Miscarriages of Justice caused by Malicious Prosecutions, Perjurious Lies, & Serious Disclosure Failures by both the Police and Crown Prosecution Service
Jonathan Royle vs The System: The Fight to Expose Britain’s Hidden Miscarriages of Justice
For most of his life, Jonathan Royle—born Alex William Smith—has lived behind masks.
A circus clown.
A mind magician,
A stage hypnotist.
A media prankster.
But today, he stands in a very different role: a man determined to expose what he claims is one of the most disturbing patterns of institutional failure in modern British legal history.
At the centre of it all lies one name: Mazher Mahmood—the undercover reporter once celebrated as “The Fake Sheikh” by tabloids, later disgraced—and the media empire of Rupert Murdoch.
From Showman to Whistle-blower
Royle’s early life was anything but ordinary. Raised in a travelling circus, he performed as “Flap the Clown” from the age of three. By 14, he had become one of the youngest certified hypnotherapists in the UK.
By the 1990s, he was making headlines—not as a victim, but as a provocateur.
Through elaborate hoaxes and disguises, he exposed how easily media outlets could be manipulated. What seemed like mischief at the time would later take on a darker significance.
Because in 1998, Royle turned his attention toward Mahmood.
It didn’t go as planned.
https://www.magicalguru.com/media-prankster-tv-show-hoaxer-2/
The Sting That Backfired
Attempting to expose Mahmood’s methods, Royle instead found himself at the centre of a criminal case—one he maintains was built on deception.
He was convicted in 1999 following a News of the World operation that led to a fabricated story appearing in print in 1998.
Years later, Mahmood himself would be exposed.
In 2014, during the collapse of the drugs trial involving Tulisa Contostavlos, serious concerns emerged about fabricated evidence. By 2016, Mahmood was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
But Royle argues the truth was known much earlier—decades earlier.
The Evidence That Changes Everything
Royle now claims to possess written evidence that could fundamentally alter how these cases are viewed.
According to him:
In 1994, after a court case collapsed due to Mahmood’s perjurious testimony, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service exchanged written communications stating clearly that:
Mahmood “could not and should not ever be relied upon as a witness of truth again.”
Despite this, authorities allegedly continued using Mahmood’s evidence for nearly 20 more years, leading to:
Multiple prosecutions
Numerous convictions
A pattern of cases later collapsing
Royle states that:
These warnings were never disclosed before his 1999 trial
Nor have they been disclosed since, despite repeated requests
Even more striking, he claims that in late 2025, the CPS informed him in writing that they have no intention of disclosing relevant material, despite obligations under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996.
If accurate, these allegations point not just to misconduct by a journalist—but to systemic disclosure failures within the justice system itself.
A Pattern of Silence
Royle insists his case is not isolated.
He claims:
At least a dozen cases collapsed over the years due to Mahmood’s unreliable evidence
Yet these collapses were never properly disclosed to defendants
Key information that could have prevented wrongful convictions was withheld
This raises a deeply uncomfortable question:
How many people were convicted based on evidence authorities already knew was unsafe?
The Murdoch Settlement
In late 2024, Royle reached a significant milestone.
News Group Newspapers—owned by Murdoch—settled his legal claim “Alex Smith v NGN” by paying a substantial sum in damages.
Then, in March 2025, they issued a private written apology relating to the actions of their journalist in 1998.
For many, that might have been the end.
For Royle, it was just the beginning.
Now with the CCRC
Royle’s case has now been formally submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the body responsible for investigating potential miscarriages of justice.
His goal is clear:
Overturn his conviction
Force full disclosure of suppressed evidence
Trigger a wider investigation into cases linked to Mahmood
A Bigger Fight Than One Man
What makes this story compelling isn’t just Royle’s personal journey—it’s the scale of what he alleges.
This is no longer about:
One journalist
One newspaper
One conviction
It’s about:
Institutional accountability
Disclosure failures by police and prosecutors
Potentially widespread miscarriages of justice
Royle is now calling for:
A full public investigation
Transparency from authorities
Justice for all those affected
Discover the Full Story
This article only scratches the surface.
If you want to explore:
The documented evidence
The timeline of events
The legal arguments
The wider pattern of collapsed cases
Visit:
There, Royle lays out the full case—detailing what he believes is one of the most significant, yet underreported, justice issues in the UK.
Final Word
Jonathan Royle has spent decades as an entertainer, illusionist, and provocateur.
Now, he claims the biggest illusion of all wasn’t on stage—but in the courtroom.
And this time, he’s determined to expose it.
