A series of crime novels set in Walthamstow, one of which was turned into a film starring Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, are set to be republished and made available in a digital format for the first time.  

Author Jeremy Cameron used his experiences working as a probation officer in Waltham Forest to write the five fictional tales centred on a criminal called Nicky Burkett.

The titles include Hell On Hoe Street and Wider Than Walthamstow. 

Ejiofor, who was nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in 12 Years A Slave, played the Burkett character in a 2000 film adaptation of the second novel in the series, It was An Accident. 

Explaining how his experiences informed his novels, Cameron said: “I listened a lot to prisoners and how people talked about their lives”, he said. 

“What I came to know was that people were leading underprivileged but resilient and humorous lives. 

“That is not to defend crime, but some of the crimes were understandable because of their situation. 

"A very small percentage of criminals are actually dangerous. 

“I used to go to their houses and have cups of tea with their families before taking them into court. 

Cameron has now returned to Norfolk, his birthplace, but said will always have a soft spot for Walthamstow and its people, having lived and worked around the area for 20 years. 

“The only person who is a real Walthamstow character in my books is Terry Oldham a tattooist on Hoe Street," he added.

"I even let him write his own lines. 

“Terry is one of the last genuine hard men. 

“Walthamstow is not perfect, but I have never felt unsafe here", he said. 

"I used to get criminals coming up to me in the market with their parents saying ‘Mum meet my probation officer’. 

“It is still great when I bump into them and see they have made a life for themselves.” 

Cameron’s first novel, Vinnie Got Blown Away, will be re-released on May 28, with the rest in the series to follow this year and next.