Dan’s Story
Just like so many of our service-users, Dan had been living a life of crime in replacement of working a job. What started as smaller convictions turned into much larger - until Dan finally saw a way to break the cycle.
We could tell you his story, but he can tell you it so much better. Read Dan’s story below!
“I'll start with my childhood which was healthy enough. There were 5 of us siblings back then (my sister Ruby passed in 2016), and although money was tight, I had love, family, friends, toys and pretty much anything else expected for a comfortable childhood. As I got older, despite being an excellent student in most subjects, I always had an underlying feeling of not quite fitting in. I became bored of further education, and proceeded to take mundane work, never holding jobs down for too long, and discovering a love for the rave scene.... where I'd taken to consuming ecstasy and amphetamines. This all made me unreliable and having my 2 eldest children at a very young age probably wasn't something I was ready for, despite how much I love them. I'm delighted to say they've grown into law abiding, great kids who work hard. I have an excellent relationship with my 14-year-old son too, from a different mother, who is doing wonderfully well at school.”
“Regarding my criminal record, it definitely escalated from the odd possession, driving offence and common assault charge, to more serious criminality, when I began to distribute cannabis in 2008 to 2009, resulting in a 12-week suspended sentence, with community service hours in addition. I was jailed for 4 weeks of the 12 originally given, for breaches of my unpaid work conditions. Things escalated further still, when meeting a notorious local traveller family in 2013, and engaging in commercial burglaries and cannabis distribution on a bigger scale, the former of which I received a 9 month suspended for, the latter proving more serious when I was arrested in Autumn 2014 transporting 2 kilos of cannabis, resulting in a 12 month custodial sentence in February 2015, along with a consecutive term of 6 months.... for committing the offence while on the suspended commercial burglary sentence.”
“At 39 years of age on release, I was determined to do better, but sadly I fell back into the same routine, favouring the fast money over legitimate jobs. This eventually led to my arrest and conviction in 2021, for conspiracy to commit fraud. I received 42 months and served just shy of 17 before being released in late December 22 on tag. It was then, at 46 years of age and recognising my 3 prison sentences had gotten longer with each, that it hit me very hard. The direct victims of my criminality. The children and family I'd badly let down, the squandering of my keen mind and potential. If memory serves, I have around 15 convictions, comprised of probably 40 charges, and am starting again financially... despite my main purpose for committing crime being fast, big money. I'd have earned more in a warehouse over the same time period. I know I'm not a bad person underneath, but it's the things we do that define us. Since my release 4 months ago, I'm delighted to say I've finally turned a corner.”
“I've been fortunate to be around family since my release, being electronically tagged to my daughter's address, where I have been coming monthly since last August, last year while on Temporary Licence Release from open prison. Being a quiet and scenic estate, it's really helped me feel at ease, and that in turn has helped me focus on rebuilding my life.”
“I now have a full-time job, on a full time contract, which is fantastic! I'm beyond delighted with this, and I am settling into the role well. I have Tempus Novo, and Olivia in particular, to thank a thousand times for this achievement, as it was Olivia who put enough faith in me after our initial meeting, to arrange a job interview for me there.”
“I have received great support since my release from Milton Keynes probation also, putting me through Reach truck and Counterbalance forklift refresher courses, and a Narrow aisle truck licence also. The support I've received from Tempus Novo though, has had by far the biggest impact. Olivia really campaigned for me and still checks in on my progress, which isn't lost on me. It's brilliant. In truth, I didn't know of Tempus Novo until arranging to attend a Job Centre event early this year, with representatives of various organisations in attendance, Tempus Novo among them. I learned what Tempus Novo did through the Job Centre and felt it was a no-brainer to have a talk.”
“From meeting Olivia to working my first shift at work, was a matter of a few weeks, which is incredible. I am really enjoying the job, and my longer-term goal is to continue with my current employer into the foreseeable future, with probably a transfer to their Waitrose Contract in the very same industrial park, as my main aim over the next year, driving the forklifts on a Nightshift. But since I want to stay with my current employer in general, I needn't put pressure on myself timewise. It's a great feeling. I haven't felt this enthusiastic about work in many years. I feel part of something again. It's so refreshing to earn money without looking over my shoulder in fear of the law, and its lovely meeting new people and establishing good working relationships. I'm happier than I've been in so long. It shows that if you're willing to put in the effort to make serious changes, there are great organisations out there that will support and encourage you. It's never too late to turn things around.”
