I came from a respectable household. Although my family was wealthy, we lived in a neighbourhood where many gangs, drug users and dealers operated. It was these bad influences that corrupted me to become one of the most notorious men to walk the streets of London. My story is so delicate my identity has to remain hidden.
From the age of seven, I began hanging with bad company. I was influenced into drug taking, drinking and stealing. At first I would only smoke cigarettes but then traded it for weed. To feed my addiction I started stealing from my family… they were oblivious to my double life - after all who would suspect a seven year-old of such a thing?
I started taking anesthetic pills. I would take about five5mg pills at a time and chew them (for a stronger effect).The more I took them, the more I became addicted. It got to a point where I would even put the drugs in my food.
The moment my secret life was exposed my family saw me as nothing more than a thieving liar. My mum would find me on the streets overdosed or completely out of it. She would carry me home but the very next day, I would go back to my friends on the streets.
As I gave myself up to that lifestyle, I got moved further into the deep, dark layer of the underground world of crime. I got involved in notorious gangs, with wanted men who operated with guns and military weapons. These gangs would openly walk the streets with AKAs and machine guns. The ringleader considered me as his protege and taught me how to lead a criminal lifestyle as well as introducing me to crack cocaine.
"One day, the gang broke into a house and robbed a man whom they beat up severely and stabbed in the neck more than 5 times."
I ransacked my family’s house, stealing anything from £10 to £15,000, which I later spent on my friends. When my father found out about the money, he had a heart attack–literally. He ended up seriously ill in hospital for two weeks.
After my dad’s heart attack, my family had enough. No one wanted anything to do with me and ignored my attempts of reconciliation. Ashamed, I decided to escape the people who had taken me on this downward spiral. I wanted a fresh start so I decided to move away to another town.
The first year was good for me. I stayed out of trouble and avoided the temptation of slipping into the old life. However, the second year saw a gradual reverse into my old ways. I began drinking, drug taking, sleeping around and associating myself with bad company.
I was contacted and hired for a big fraud job in London. With the prospect of making millions, although I had a choice to decline the offer, I could not resist such temptation and so accepted. I did the job and when it was over I was told, ‘I don’t need you anymore’ and I was sent away.
With no other option, I stayed in London were I avoided detection from Immigration, pretending to seek asylum under false pretences. I said that my family died, that I had no one, I was escaping from war. I went to the Home Office looking like I was homeless.
In reality, I was sharing a home in Wood Green with my new family: people who were just like me – anti social youths who were drug addicts and drunkards. The gang would make money by robbing people and shops.
Robbery became a routine-as if we were going to a 9-5 job, but it soon became boring. One day, the gang broke into a house and robbed a man whom they beat up severely and stabbed in the neck more than 5 times. He did not survive the attack. That day I was supposed to be there with them but for some reason I didn’t make it, I was late. Today those gang members are in jail for 14/15 years. I couldn’t believe that could have been me.
This realisation caused me to think about my life. Deep down I knew that my life was a mess. The money from the robberies was not making me happy; the people that I had considered as my 'family' were only using me for my expertise and my money. It was time for a change.
With nothing better to do, I reluctantly accepted an invitation to attend the VYG’s ‘The Truth Behind Hip Hop’ event at the UCKG. The meeting really touched me as I related to it and it exposed the negative influence hip hop music has on youth culture. I also received the strong prayer and counselling, but although I became a regular member of the VYG following the event, I still continued living the street life.
I wasn’t serious because I was still involved in that life. One day a rival gang came to rob me. I ran into a building but two of my ‘friends’ snitched on me. The gang ran in after me and the leader put a gun to my back and said, ‘There are no CCTV cameras here–no security; I can shoot you in the back and no one is going to know.' They stabbed me and beat me so much. At that moment I decided to choose God.
God was my only hope. When my friends were being arrested for raping a girl and throwing sulphuric acid in her face, I was fighting to change. I put into practise what I learned, though it took time, I cut away from my old friends and left my old life behind. It was a complete change.
Today I’m unecognizable. I no longer smoke or take drugs. I hold a regular job and I’m looking forward to a bright future.
I saw my friend on the news - he was stabbed outside Oxford Street in front of McDonalds. Another one was stabbed outside Edmonton Green tube station. Another one is now in jail for stabbing someone - that day I’d invited him to church...if I was still with them, I would be dead or behind bars too.
