Stephen Fry was sent to prison at the age of 17 for credit card fraud. After being expelled from several schools and failing his A-levels, he stole a credit card from a family friend and went on a brief spending spree, which included stays at hotels and taxis, eventually leading to his arrest in Swindon. For this, he was sentenced to three months in Pucklechurch Prison, a youth detention center. During his time in prison, Fry reportedly shared a cell with a young man he helped teach to read and write, earning the nickname "the Professor." This episode was a turning point in his life, after which he refocused on his education and eventually attended Cambridge University. His youthful troubles were partly related to underlying mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and kleptomania-like impulses, which he later acknowledged and managed. Fry has spoken openly about this period as formative, leading him to a successful career in entertainment and advocacy despite his early mistakes.