Peter grew up running with elder brother Dennis and, after being expelled from school at 14, quickly graduated in the criminal world.

Assaults led to fights involving weapons, and armed robbery.

Time spent in a youth training centre was a taste of life to come.

The Allens' exploits ended violently in 1973 when they raped two Sandringham sisters aged 22 and 16 while on a mission to kill a man for $500.

Allen, along with criminal Allan Rudd, then went on a booze-induced shooting spree that ended when police shot Rudd.

Peter Allen was jailed for 12 years.

During his jail term Peter Allen managed to escape twice.

He was on the Top 10 wanted list until he was recaptured.

In August 1985, at the age of 32, he walked free from jail determined to make big money and live a lavish lifestyle.

Within days, he was driving a flashy sports car and living with a new girlfriend in Brunswick while dealing in high-quality heroin.

With a network of dealers, Allen began earning up to $40,000 a week.

It seemed his grandiose plans to set himself up as a drugs king were reaching fruition - he had the car and the trappings, and soon bought a mansion in Lower Templestowe.

He was gambling heavily.

Sometimes he'd win. Big. Other times he'd lose. Even bigger.

Police began investigations as Allen's stature grew.

But it was his propensity to brag that helped them snare evidence.

According to Tom Noble's book, Untold Violence, Allen spouted, during one of many bugged phone calls, about why he loved being a drug supplier: "The soldier ants, they go to work for their three or four hundred a week, collect their poison and home, right? Pay their car. Say 500 a week.

"Well I paid 150 off the house, I paid 100 off the car. What are you left with? $40 a week. That's to live on.

"I don't feel remorse . . . you know why? Because they choose. That's what they choose."

Detectives arrested him in April 1986.

He'd been out only eight months.

In December 1988, he was sentenced to 13 years' jail for trafficking heroin and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

In dismissing his appeal against the original sentence of 10 years, the full Supreme Court bench said he had shown no remorse. "Persons detected in the business of trafficking in heroin should expect little mercy from the courts."

Allen's possessions were also confiscated as profits of crime.

But even in prison, his criminally driven entrepreneurial spirit could not be broken.

As mastermind of an elaborate syndicate involving female couriers, a corrupt prison officer dubbed "The Postie", and brother Victor Peirce, Allen sold drugs to inmates.

But police uncovered the syndicate and in March 1995, Allen was sentenced to another six years.

Victor Peirce (pictured left with wife Wendy) was also jailed.

Peter was released from Loddon Prison in July 1999 after serving 13 years for trafficking.

Aged 46 with two children and five grandchildren, Allen had spent all but one of his adult years behind bars.

He spent about 25 years in prison since 1973.

After being paroled, he said that he just wanted to lead a normal life but it was less than three years before he again faced serious charges.

His daughter hopes he can now live in peace.

"I'm excited for him. He's been inside just about his entire life. From what he's told me he has no intention of getting back into the criminal side of things," she said.

But police were not so sure. "It'll be interesting to see if he can keep himself out of trouble," one said.

On January 21, 2002, Peter was in court to face 19 charges including armed robbery and burglary.

Allen represented himself as he applied for bail at Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Sen-Det Andrew Collins told the court Allen broke into a Williamstown home and stole a mantelpiece on January 9.

About a week later he returned and stole a television, rugs and the front door from the same house.

On January 16, Allen, his girlfriend Amber Barry, 19, and others allegedly robbed a man at knifepoint after driving him to a North Caulfield street.

They stole his wallet and runners, the court heard.

Allen said he was reporting to his parole officer at Ringwood at the time of the first burglary.

He also claimed the alleged armed robbery victim had not been forced into the car.

Peter argued that he needed to take care of he and Ms Barry's baby and to look after his family home in Richmond.

He told the court he was renovating his Cubitt St house, which had belonged to his brother Dennis.

Magistrate Peter Couzens refused bail but told Allen he could make another application later through a lawyer.

He remanded Allen to appear in court on April 2.

Peter Allen ended up being released from custody after successfully applying for bail on April 30, 2002, the day before his brother Victor Pierce was murdered.

Allen's lawyer, Scott Johns, said bail was warranted as there would be a long delay in the trial being listed and there was a prospect of an acquittal.

Victor Peirce was shot dead in Bay Street, Port Melbourne in an execution style drive-by shooting on May 1, 2002.

Peirce was rumoured to have been heavily involved with the drug trade and to have started trafficking illegal guns in Brunswick.

Pierce was said to have made recent enemies over drug deals.

On May 7, 2002, Peter Allen spoke to a small media contingent telling them that he could not be held responsible for the actions of his "family" in the wake of Detective Inspector John Noonan's statements after Peirce's death.

Noonan, who headed the investigation into the Walsh Street police murders of which Peirce had been acquitted, said Peirce finally got what he deserved.

"Obviously we don't condone anyone meeting their demise in that way, but I suppose one could argue he's finally been sentenced for all his unlawful activities.

"I don't have any sympathy and certainly no sadness on a personal basis."

"It's just nice that people pay for their sins," he said.

"Certainly I don't view it with any sadness. He's been a career criminal and, knowing what he's done over the years, there's certainly no sadness on my part."

Allen used the phrasing abilities gained by representing himself in court for many years in an animated 60 second speech.

Allen asked that "there' be no interference from the Victorian Police Force and that Insp. John Noonan be restrained from his comments."

Peter Allen said Noonan was happy Peirce had died after being angered by the failure of his case against him in 1988.

"He never got a conviction, he never got promoted...that's not our fault", Allen said.

"Because of Noonan's comments, I cannot be responsible for the actions my brothers (who are everywhere) could take.

"Anybody who thanks the Pettingill, Allen, Peirce faction are dead - are wrong," he warned.

Police would not respond saying they didn't want to give Allen more publicity than he deserved.

Allen was again arrested in early January 2003.

Police alleged that Allen, wearing a balaclava and armed with a sawn-off shotgun, went to the Australia Post building in Toorak Road, Hartwell, about 2pm on January 8.

He demanded cash from an attendant, and was followed by a witness when he fled the building.

The witness prodded Mr Allen with a club lock and smashed the back window of the car in which Mr Allen and another man drove off.

Mr Allen is alleged to have said to the driver of the getaway car: "Just shoot him," referring to the witness.

The number plates on the car belonged to Mr Allen.

On January 14, 2003, Peter Allen represented himself during the filing hearing and lively bail application in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

He had been charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of the theft of a motor vehicle, and a count of possession of a firearm.

"You are getting a bit old for this caper," Magistrate Frank Jones told Mr Allen.

When Mr Allen told the court that he was applying for bail, Mr Jones said to him: "Geez, you're pushing your luck."

Mr Jones adjourned the hearing, saying that the bail application was a "bit premature".

Mr Allen told the court: "I'll stay in jail a few days, angry."

On July 19, 2003 Allen made his third Supreme Court bid for bail over the armed robbery charges.

He was denied bail after claiming police had conspired against his family.

Noting Mr Allen's ''appalling'' six-page long criminal record going back to 1968 Justice Gillard refused bail.