I’ve a story to tell, I’m in no way glorifying what I’m going to say but it was a long and painful journey; take 5 and if one of yous learns about this hell its worth every letter I’m writing.
In November 2007 I was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to the now unlawful and barbaric IPP sentence. I served 11 and a half years in prisons up and down the country.
The sentence broke me and changed the laddie I once was; outgoing, fun and a whole lot more. Now I’m a shadow of my former self and I feel I’ll never be the same again.
I chose my path in life and I wish I knew then what I know now….tut tut a lot of things would change.
Anyway, whilst serving my jail I coped how I do best and that was abusing my mind with drugs; yes me the drug addict but that’s another story.
I went from a good laddie to someone who gave up hope on ever being released and my mental health deteriorated rapidly; not to the point of hurting myself but plenty of intrusive thoughts about suicide. I dealt with it by evading reality and fucked up my thought process with shite. What a Dick! I was past gone.
After being booted about the country from chokey to chokey and knock back after knock back off moody parole boards that are so risk adverse they are terrified to release anyone in case it bounces back in their faces.Where is fair justice after 10 to 16 years served with 2/3rds of them self-harming? Luckily, I didn’t become one of them stats and survived the mental torture.
Anyway after 10 years fate came my way and by sitting in Everthorpe chokey and battered and bruised once again after another licking off another 3 or 4 Germans. One morning I was lying on my bed when I heard a Yorkshire lad shout “fuck that I’m from Yorkshire al get battered in Holme House “Them eleven words saved my life, literally.
A PO and a normal screw took me to Holme House and it was just by chance the PO was the manager of the TC. Yes the TC and somersaulted off the bed to jump on the bus the little Yorkshire kid had been too scared to go to. Young’un you don’t understand what I owe you for refusing that ship out that day. Ya na who you are.
I explained my situation to the PO and he promised to help me, he seen the TC manager and after some stable behaviour I got my shot.
Anyway, I succeeded and from a 4 man unlock in Everthorpe block within 18 months I was house manager of the TC structure and released.
Been out 15 months now and doing great.
Had a few ups and downs but hey that’s life…………...