In an exclusive revelation, Britain's most daring stunt performer has unveiled the harrowing truth behind his death-defying motorcycle jumps that captivated audiences during the 1980s. John Taylor, often compared to legendary American daredevil Evel Knievel, has disclosed that his reckless stunts were driven by a desperate need to expose the brutal childhood abuse he endured while in care.
A Life Defined by Trauma and Triumph
Now aged 62 and a grandfather of 21 from Liverpool, Taylor's life story forms the basis of a powerful new documentary titled The Bravest Stuntman in the World. The film chronicles his journey from a traumatized child to a national stunt sensation, and now to a passionate advocate for child protection reform.
"People still remember me from what I did in the 1980s, but those stunts weren't about fame and fortune," Taylor explains. "I was just trying to tell people what happened to me. If mandatory reporting had been in place when I was little, it would have prevented what happened to me. I want to use my story to make a change. I'm fighting for other kids."
The Childhood That Shaped a Daredevil
Taylor's ordeal began at just seven years old when family circumstances led to his placement in Knolle Park children's home, based at St Gabriel's Convent in Liverpool's Woolton area. During his two years in care, he suffered sexual abuse at the hands of John Christian, an odd job man who worked at the convent. Christian was eventually jailed for 11 years in 1998 for sexually abusing young boys over two decades.
"When the abuse happened I felt nobody would listen; there was never anywhere to go with it," Taylor recalls of his childhood trauma. His escape came through bicycles and later motorcycles, which provided a sense of freedom from his painful reality.
From Bicycle Escapes to Motorcycle Stardom
Taylor's fascination with two-wheeled vehicles began early. "I broke out of the home once, found an old Silver Cross pram and whizzed down the hill on it," he remembers. "I got my first bike, a Chopper, when I was eleven. It gave me such a sense of freedom - it felt like magic, like flying."
His inspiration to become a professional stuntman came at age 11 or 12 when he watched Evel Knievel attempt to jump 13 buses at Wembley Stadium in 1975. "I realised he commanded respect - people listened to him," Taylor says. "I thought, 'I want them to listen to me the way they listen to him - and they'll get a shock about what I have to say.'"
The Stunts That Captivated a Nation
By 1982, aged 18 and working in a carpet shop, Taylor purchased his first motorbike - a Suzuki 250 RM on hire purchase for £2,000. His inaugural jump occurred later that year at a local community show, clearing approximately 30 feet of fire. A week later, he extended this to 50 feet, operating without any formal health and safety measures.
"The idea was to get popular by doing different jumps," Taylor explains. "The ultimate aim was to do the biggest jump in the world over buses, attract attention, and then tell my story."
Record-Breaking Feats and Devastating Injuries
Taylor's career was marked by extraordinary achievements and severe physical consequences:
- In 1985, he completed a spectacular jump over three sets of high-rise derelict flats, taking off from one block, flying over another, and landing on a third that was thirty feet lower
- He achieved a world record-breaking jump involving a 125-foot wall of fire
- In 1987, he attempted a 300-foot ride through a tunnel of fire but suffered injuries during practice
- Throughout his career, he broke multiple bones including those in his ankles, ribs, collarbone, breast bone, and back - some injuries occurring twice
"Nobody was teaching me - it was all trial and error," Taylor admits regarding his dangerous learning process. "I was using a short ramp and I was going fast and suddenly I was faced with 200 feet of fresh air. It was a bad accident. If you look at photos of me after the crash you can see it in my eyes."
The Fight for Legal Reform
Taylor's most significant battle now occurs off the motorcycle, as he campaigns tirelessly for mandatory reporting laws that would require staff in schools, sports organizations, and faith-based groups to report suspected child sexual abuse.
"If a child is abused there is no legal duty on staff to report that," he emphasizes. "It was like that six decades ago and it's the same now and that bothers me. I can't sit by and do nothing. If we had this law people couldn't turn a blind eye."
Political Advocacy and Documentary Impact
Taylor has become a passionate advocate for Mandate Now, a pressure group campaigning for mandatory reporting legislation. His dedication even led him to ride from Liverpool to London to deliver a letter to then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak demanding legal change, though he received no reply.
The documentary about his life has gained political traction, winning backing from Liberal Democrat MPs and scheduled for screening to a cross-party group of MPs in March, with potential general release later this year.
"People still remember what I did on my bike - and now they know why," Taylor reflects on the documentary's purpose. When asked what he would tell his teenage self who risked everything for justice, he responds simply: "I'd say carry on. Just carry on."
The documentary The Bravest Stuntman In The World was produced through Eight Trick Pony Productions, with the company currently seeking a broadcast partner to share Taylor's powerful story with wider audiences.
