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 I am from a place called Clydach in the Swansea Valley, Wales, UK. My mother lived with our grandparents and some of her brothers and sisters so it was a very crowded house. My mother had seven children but we were a happy close knit family and she sent us to Sunday School because she had always believed in God. I think this is where the first seeds of faith were sown in my life.
We were split up as a family when we were thrown out of our house in 1962 because of non-payment of rent. My Mother then married my stepfather while we were living in a homeless family unit in Rhoose near Cardiff. We were then given a council house back in Clydach. Twins were added to the family and we were nine children. I left home at 16 and followed my older brother to London; it was there that I tried my first LSD tablet and on returning to Clydach a year later, I took some home to sell, I was seventeen.
After staying in Wales for a year I returned to London and met a Dutch girl, fell in love. She returned to Holland at the end of the summer holidays. I missed her so much that I decided to follow her there. I turned up on her doorstep and surprised her. It had been a month since she left London. We set off for 6 weeks in Germany and stayed on a friend's farm. She then returned to Wales with me where we lived together for a year. We decided that there was much better jobs available for us both in HolIand so we moved to The Hague in April 1975. I loved the Dutch relaxed attitude, in particular, their relaxed attitude towards drugs. We stayed together for another 4 years untill our relationship fizzled out and we split up.
After the split my girlfriend began to show signs of schizophrenia or what is now known as bipolar disorder. I would see her sometimes in the street talking to herself and laughing at the sky; she had lost her mind because of the drugs. It was so painful that I decided to go away - far away; first to Sri Lanka, then India before returning to The Hague. Back in The Hague I got involved in dealing in a bar.
I thought I was enjoying life, but it's a sleazy world really. People are not your friends they just hang around for the buzz of the moment, but it is not lasting and friends come and go and many along the way do not make it. I've seen so many lose their lives because of drugs.
As time passed I developed another relationship and we had a son together. We were getting into increasing amounts of debt because of the need to buy cocaine and heroin. My dealer in The Hague allowed me to have drugs on credit, until the debt had run up to 4,000 guilders. I was coming under increasing pressure to pay off the debt and I eventually agreed to smuggle a supply of cocaine into Wales.
I was in a hotel room in Swansea, going cold turkey because my supply had run out, when the police raided and I was arrested. I was taken to a police cell and there I felt so humiliated and full of fear, worried about my partner and our 2 month old son and about what my family would think when they heard about my arrest on the news. I was at such a low ebb. It was in that police station cell that I re-dedicated my life back to God. In such a situation only God can help. I would encourage anyone to call on God and without a doubt He will answer all who meaningfully call on Him. Never give up praying; prayer changes things.
I was sent to prison and while there I was able to write many letters, do Bible courses, writing courses and journalism courses. Two months after I went into prison my son was put into foster care as his mother was unable to cope because of her addiction. I caused a lot of problems in her life as well as my own. I have since learned that she is doing ok. I was sentenced to 12 years and this was later reduced to 10 on appeal.
Finally, after serving 5 years of my sentence and a further 3 years into freedom I was allowed to travel and see my son for the first time. It was a joy and I was so excited. I have kept in regular contact with him via cards and letters.
The biggest news is that I married Su on the 23rd July 2004 and took on her four children and our daughter was born the following year.
Since June 2004 I had been working as a support worker with a Christian organisation named 'Prospects', supporting people with learning difficulties to live in their own home. After this I worked as a caretaker in the new Community Centre in, Clydach where I also had reception duties. This put me at the centre of public scrutiny and I realised that only God could take an ex drug addict/dealer and restore to him the lost years and for the public to accept me the way they did.
UPDATES
I have finished studying my second year at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea and I have started my 3rd year at Cardiff University in September 2009. I will also be doing two years ministerial studies at the Baptist college in Cardiff. The first year will be done along side my degree and the second year while in a placement.
I attended the local Bethania Baptist Chapel in Graigfelen, Clydach, Swansea for 10 months with the minister being the Rev'd Robert Bawden. Because of family needs we have now left Bethania and have been searching for a Baptist chapel or church that will be able to accommodate a large family. Among those we have found as a bridge until my placement is arranged is Pantygwdr, Uplands, Swansea and Sardis, Resolven.
I am a member of the Swansea Prison Fellowship volunteer group since January 2001 and we meet once a month. Part of this work includes going into Prisons to give my testimony, visit inmates and write letters of support. I receive many letters from people with addictions and feel humbled that my book, letters or visits have helped them in some way.
I also have the privilege of being a Street Pastor since April 2009 helping to make the streets of Swansea safer at night.
We have just taken on an extra two children on Monday 23rd November who are relatives in our family. We will be taking care of them while their mother recovers from the serious illness of addiction.
I pray that you look to Jesus for all your answers to life's ups and downs. Read the Bible and pray regularly. Build up a relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. He is not too big to be aloof and distant, no, He loved us so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ertenal life (John 3:16).
Praise God!
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