No expert, but I believe a criminal record means different things in the UK to the US.

Get a criminal record in the US and kiss goodbye to most jobs, I believe? Something about legal liability?

In the UK, you’d be excluded from some jobs, but the 1974 rehabilitation act sees to it that you’re still pretty employable. Not speaking from experience there, but it’s certainly a different ball game.

Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, I’d like to know more.