I am so glad to have been given this opportunity to write just a small part of my story for you. For me, I wish you to hear or get a message of hope and inspiration.

Originally I am from Northern Ireland and prior to going to HMPs Reading and Onley was a serving soldier in a Guards regiment. I served in London and in Surrey. My role at that time was protecting the late Queen’s residences at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. I was also involved in the Trooping of the Colour – also known as the Queen’s (now the King’s) Birthday Parade. I served overseas in Kenya, Oman and the Falkland Islands (way after the war) in my short two and a half years in the military. 

Change through alcohol

I can recall many nights out on the town drinking excessively, partying to all hours and then getting into fights in bars all over England, receiving a couple of minor convictions and court appearances as a result. I also spent time in the ‘Army Nick’ due to my drunken antics. I would take civilian jail over army jail any day of the week. I completely changed when I drank alcohol and became very aggressive, and my behaviour was unpredictable. Being considered Irish this was accepted as just part of the deal.

On remand

I remember one night I was out with two friends and a family member, and we all went on a rampage through a town in southern England. The night ended with us all being arrested for Violent Disorder, with a possible maximum sentence of five years as a consequence. I was remanded in HMP Reading. I entered the prison in a blue forensic suit, transported via the sweatbox prison van. I’ll never forget my first sight of that prison, semi-circle windows with bars – and going through reception and the ‘rubber burger dinner’ they gave me. I also recall the noise on the wing with guys banging the doors and shouting and bawling. 

The seed of recovery

At trial I pleaded guilty to Violent Disorder and feel I received leniency on my year long sentence because I had lost a military career in the process and my closest family were in Northern Ireland. I served two weeks in Reading before being moved to HMP Onley in Coventry. I was on ‘I’ Wing and then moved to A Wing. There are many stories I could write about my prison experiences; some funny and some not so funny. I will say I attempted to make alcohol but failed miserably and all I got was a sugar high. Before I was released I completed a ‘Thinking Skills’ course and because I committed my crime under the influence of alcohol was tasked to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The seed of recovery was planted – thank God.

Sunshine break

I arrived back in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on the day of the Omagh Bombing in August 1998, waking up with a stinking hangover. Between 1998 and 2000 I was in trouble again with the local crime gangs or paramilitaries and decided I needed to do something about living in NI. So I went on a three-week holiday to a Spanish island to do a Timeshare role, selling holidays to tourists and I never returned to NI for eight years, only returning due to an injury.

Back to prison

Whilst living abroad I stopped drinking, drugging and all the crazy behaviour. I thankfully joined the meetings of AA and they helped me remain sober and clean. Today, I am close to 18 years clean and sober and have not returned to prison (as a prisoner). However, during this time of sobriety I went back to school, having to start from scratch as I didn’t do very well in school regarding qualifications. I received my degree in Community Youth Work and have gone on to enter the prisons of Northern Ireland as an Addiction Caseworker, helping to reintegrate prisoners into society and working with young offenders in many different forms – from intervention and education to organising outdoor pursuits. 

Restoring hope

Today I work for an agency where I take referrals from the courts and steer young offenders through a Restorative Justice programme where they can meet their victim and make amends for their offences. This is a powerful healing process which I love being involved with. I am also a Recovery Coach – supporting people to maintain sobriety and build upon their recovery from substances and in addition I support parents of troubled teenagers.

My greatest joy

There are so many stories I could tell regarding my life events and my time in prison, in the military, and my period on that beautiful Spanish island and all the life lessons I have learnt along the way. However, for anyone serving a sentence reading this there is support and guidance if you want it. I never got any support until I went to prison nor, I suppose, did I want it. I am not advertising AA or going to prison, but it was the occurrence that changed my world for the better. They say things happen for a reason and I am one hundred per cent sure that that chain of events, early in my life, set me on course to be able to recover from substances. However, my greatest joy today is watching others recover one day at a time and move away from all the head trouble it causes them. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and remember, with the right choices you never know where your life will lead you.