Ex-gangster’s story has the shock factor

Photo: Darren Robinson

Former London gang member Paul Hannaford gives talk to pupils at Springbrook School.

A HARD-HITTING talk on how drugs and gangs can ruin lives gave pupils at Springbrook School a stark reality check.

Reformed gang member Paul Hannaford (45), who grew up in East London, hammered home how making the wrong choices can have a catastrophic impact.

The Oldham Athletic Community Trust organised Paul’s visit which included five other Oldham Schools and involved pupils aged seven to 14.

Paul told a room of pupils how a spur of the moment decision to smoke marijuana sent the promising young footballer who dreamed of playing for West Ham United into a downward spiral of drug use and crime.

He began smoking marijuana aged 14 and by the age of 15 was robbing people on the streets, taking a cocktail of cocaine, ecstasy and horse tranquilliser ketamine and joined a gang.

He said: “Being in a gang gave me protection, and money. When I was 18 I was number two, and at 21 I was gang leader committing credit card fraud.

“After trying heroin at a party at 23, I became addicted and I was injecting myself everywhere.”

Pupils heard how Paul committed armed robberies and stole thousands of pounds of clothing to fuel his £400-a-day heroin and crack cocaine habit. After shedding five stone, Paul saw his mum at Romford train station and she did not recognise him. Soon after, he turned over the family home to feed his habit.

Paul said: “I had nothing. I was waking up in crack dens and sharing needles. I was stabbed by a drug dealer over a £50 debt and woke up in hospital.

“Soon after I injected myself, overdosed and went back to hospital where I was diagnosed with septicaemia and pneumonia and given two days to live.”

Paul shocked the watching pupils by showing images of when doctors put maggots on his infected leg to eat the rotting flesh.

He checked himself into rehab in Somerset and within three months was on the mend.

Fast-forward eight years, Paul now works with 60,000 children a year as well as young offenders in prison.

He has also regained contact with his 19-year-old daughter after giving a talk in the school she attended.

He said: “I saw her outside the gate. It was the best day of my life. She didn’t know who I was so I sent a letter with my number.

“After two weeks she hadn’t been in touch and I thought that was it. But then she rang to say she’d been on holiday and now I see her every Saturday.

“Early intervention is paramount. The reason we have a problem is because there are not many schools teaching these things.

“We need to warn young people of the dangers and give them a fighting chance.”

Workshop

OACT participation manager Martin Vose organised the event with Latics becoming the first club to host a large scale workshop with multiple schools.

He said: “We want to tie into the Kicks project and provide opportunities for young people.

“We want to show them that being in a gang isn’t cool. This talk is about educating and shocking and helping them make the right choices.”

Acting head of Springbrook Upper School Mel Rodgers added: “We wanted to teach the children about drugs and felt we needed something hard-hitting.

“Even some of the more hard to reach students listened to every word and we hope the message about making safe choices gets through.”