Ex-prisoner helping young people in custody at Oldbury

Ken Henry speaks to young people who are brought into the custody cells in Oldbury

A former prisoner has been helping young people in custody to "transform their lives".

Ken Henry works at Oldbury Custody Suite for the St Giles Trust and also as an outreach worker for the charity.

He spent many of his younger years in jail but his mother's death while he was in prison made him take stock and change his life, West Midlands Police said.

He speaks to those aged mainly between 11 and 18 who have been arrested.

Mr Henry, who served time for robbery and theft, said he made some "bad decisions" when younger but had turned his life around.

"Some young people commit crime through boredom, [because of] influences from their peers, [or] getting in the wrong crowd. They may not have a role model at home, someone to guide them," he said.

"I can identify with many of these young people. I have walked in their footsteps and can help them."

'Let's stop here'

Mr Henry said he finds out what interests young people in custody and helps them to get further support.

"I find out why these kids are making these wrong decisions and I say to them 'look, let's stop it here before you ruin your life'."

He said in one case he helped a teenager who was in the cells after a robbery and had both been truanting from school and involved in the wrong crowd.

The boy said he enjoyed football and music and Mr Henry helped get him into a team and found him a weekend job at a shop.

He is now doing well and back at school, Mr Henry added.

Police said while aiming to "secure justice for victims" they also worked alongside the trust to help suspects "steer their lives back on track".

It includes helping young people access education, employment and training opportunities and "addressing any underlying issues around mental health, substance use and poverty".

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