Dennis Howard Marks tells his story in Guildford

HIS real name is Dennis Howard Marks. His aliases are John McKenna, Donald Nice, Anthony Tunnicliffe, Albert W Jennings, Ray Fox, John Goddard and Albi

Now, Mr Nice will tell you all about them during a talk at the Boileroom on Wednesday February 29.

Born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill, a small Welsh coal-mining village near Bridgend, Marks attended Oxford University where he earned a degree in nuclear physics and postgraduate qualifications in philosophy.

Described by the Daily Mail as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time', Marks has worked with the British Secret Service and has been connected with the Mafia, the IRA, MI6 and the CIA.

Marks was busted in 1988 by the American Drug Enforcement Agency and sentenced to 25 years in America's toughest prison; Terre Haute, Indiana.

He was considered by prison authorities to be an escape risk due to his links with MI6 and his status as an Oxford University graduate.

Despite never attempting to escape or threatening any other prisoners, he spent many weeks in solitary confinement.

He was released on parole in 1995 after serving seven years.

In 1996, he released his autobiography, Mr Nice, which remains an international best seller in several languages and was the best selling non-fiction book of 1997.

This was followed in 2001 by The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories.

More recently, he wrote the thriller Sympathy for the Devil.

Marks took a step into the world of politics in 1997, when he stood for election on the single issue of the legalisation of cannabis.

Contesting four seats - Norwich South, Norwich North, Neath and Southampton Test, he got about 1% of the vote.

On the subject of his book, he said: "Through a plethora of media interviews and several public book readings, it became clear that the predominant reason why so many adolescents and university students read and enjoyed Mr Nice was their frustration with the law prohibiting cannabis consumption and trade.

"Until then, I had no idea of the extraordinary extent of cannabis use by young people today."

Marks has also starred in gangster film Killer Bitch.

He has made appearances on BBC television show Never Mind the Buzzcocks and was interviewed on Irish TV's The Late Late Show, speaking about the legalisation of cannabis.

Doors will open at 7pm, admittance is for people aged 18 and above.

Tickets cost £15 in advance. To find out more call 01483 440022 or log onto the boileroom.net