Paralysed veteran with PTSD saved by falconry

Darren Horvath and his six-month-old hawk, Antal, hope to help people in Berkshire

A military veteran with PTSD who spent 10 years in prison has now set up a falconry project for people with mental health struggles.

Darren Horvath from Reading said he wants to share the "warmth" he gets from the birds with other people.

He was deployed to the Middle East during the first Gulf War from 1990 to 1991, when he was 17 years old, but he returned home with PTSD and after he attempted suicide he was left paralysed in his right arm.

He said "life got worse" after he set fire to two parked cars and was jailed for two years, but ended up serving 10 years in prison under the now abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence.

Mr Horvath was deployed to the Middle East during the first Gulf War

A prisoner with an IPP sentence was considered for release by a Parole Board after they had served their minimum term.

IPP sentences were handed out between 2005 and 2012 to try and keep the most dangerous criminals behind bars, but were scrapped after criticism that less serious offenders were getting caught up in the provision.

Mr Horvath was brought up in care and joined the Army aged 16.

He served in the Life Guards regiment and said he enjoyed his time in the military.

He admitted that on the frontline he understood it was kill or be killed but when he returned home that he struggled to come to terms with what he had done while at war.

Mr Horvath joined the army aged 16

While in prison Mr Horvath joined a falconry programme and excelled.

He has now used that experience to form The Raptor Project, which is a group designed to help other vulnerable people who might be struggling with their mental health.

While out on a walk with his six-month-old hawk, Antal, Mr Horvath said: "It's like a huge weight is taken off my shoulders when I'm in the woods with him, when I'm out flying with him and it's the kind of connection and the bond we've got, is kind of special too."

He added: "It brightens me up, there's a glowing and warmth inside and I basically wouldn't mind everyone else feeling like that too."

Katie takes part in the project and a says it gives her a "huge amount of purpose in life".

"Suffering with anxiety, depression and anxiety can be very challenging but it's giving us all a reason to get up and go," she said.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find information and support on the BBC Actionline website here.