Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Case Studies

Veteran Beats the Bottle After Hardest Fight Of His Life

FORMER soldier Paul (name changed) contemplated suicide having assaulted his wife, an attack which resulted in six weeks in jail on remand. Now, a year on, he has quit alcohol and successfully completed his order.

Rochdale Probation Helps Tony Reform

TONY turned to drugs after being medically discharged from the army following an accident.

Probation Helps Alan Rehabilitate

ALAN set fire to his house after suffering trauma following a banking dispute that was about to result in his belongings being repossessed.
The 50-year-old, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, had never previously been in trouble with the law.
Alan was living alone and working part time at a local supermarket while being in receipt of benefits. His problems started after what appears to have been a banking error resulted in him going into his overdraft and acquiring a substantial debt.
As the weeks went by he struggled to cope. The final straw occurred when he received a letter telling him the bailiffs were coming.

Drew Lintott Puts Years of Addiction Behind Him and is Now Using His Experiences to Help the Homeless.

The 43-year-old was brought up in care and began committing offences when he was young.

Since the first time he was jailed he has received sentences totalling 42 years for a variety of crimes including theft and possession of drugs. The final offence was for armed robbery. However, since release in 2007 Drew has managed to kick crack cocaine and heroin habits, and is now relishing his volunteer positions for a variety of Manchester charities.

Mike Beats Addiction and Commits To Change

MIKE was preparing to pass out for the army before he snapped his ankle on a training session. Having left school aged 16 and gone straight into employment, when he reached 19 he left to enlist. After the accident, depression, drink and drugs took a hold. At one point, over a five month period his partner spent £8,000 financing his crack habit. However, after serving a 48 month prison sentence, Mike is drug free and putting his life back together.

Tommy Turns His Back On Alcohol

TOMMY has been in and out of prison for more than a decade, but firmly believes he has changed during his current period in custody.

Radical Change Sparked By Probation Officer

PAUL has radically changed as a result of the relationship he formed with his probation officer, after being sentenced for affray.
The 35-year-old railway engineer got off on the wrong foot during his first meeting, at GMPT’s Stretford office.
Paul was sentenced at Mold Crown Court. He had got into an argument with a group of rowdy teenagers while on holiday in Wales, which culminated in him being arrested for allegedly threatening one of them with an axe. He pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to a two year suspended sentence order, 100 hours unpaid work and 12 months supervision.

Mum Breaks Cycle Of Abuse Thanks to Probation Officer

KELLY was a “total wreck” when she began her probation order, having being sentenced for drink driving.
The mum-of-two turned to alcohol as a support to help comfort her after splitting from her husband of 14 years. Although he never beat her, she suffered years of mental torment, and was left feeling suicidal.
Wine gave Kelly a means of escape, but one morning after shunting into a neighbour’s car while reversing down a driveway, she was breathlised by police and found to be way inexcess of the limit.

Offender Turns Life Around, Supported By GMPT

SIMON pledged to turn his life around when he appeared at Magistrate’s court and fully appreciated the impact his drug use was having on his family.
The 28-year-old, from Wigan, had been abusing a powerful cocktail of drugs for several years, including cannabis, cocaine and prescription opiates.
The life-style eventually culminated in Simon losing control and assaulting a police officer during a drug induced psychosis.
Having successfully completed his order, with help from the Greater Manchester Probation Trust he has managed to remain drug-free and is now actively seeking employment.

Probation Helps Offender Reform

RYON has gained citizenship, accommodation and a house within months of being released from prison.

The 25-year-old, who lives in Newton Heath, received a three-year jail sentence for possessing cocaine and supply or offering to supply.

It was the first time Ryon had been before the courts on drug related issues, and caused him to re-examine his life and the friends he kept. But within days of being released from custody, because he is Jamaican and had not got leave to remain in the UK and was fearful of being returned to the island - he pledged to reoffend.

Without support from GMPT, Ryon would have wound up back in jail.

Reformed Heroin Addict On Path To Recovery

SNATCHING a handbag from an elderly lady started a painful process that caused Marc to turn his back on heroin and crime.
The 29-year-old, from Tonge Moor, Bolton, first appeared before the courts in his mid-teens as he lost interest in school and began taking drugs and stealing cars.
The lowest point, Marc’s last offence, occurred when he snatched a handbag to get cash to feed his habit. In the process he inadvertently injured the victim. He was sentenced to 52 months for robbery and assault and was jailed in December, 2006.

Offender Spends First Christmas At Home For Years, With Help From Probation

SARAH has spent almost 20 years in jail since she was 19, but has now managed to get her life back on track.

The 39-year-old was introduced to heroin and crack cocaine by a former partner. To feed her habit she turned to burglary, and has only spent two-and-a-half years out of prison since she was a teenager.
After completing her last jail sentence, seven-and-a-half years for robbery and assault with intent to rob, Sarah was classified as a Prolific and Priority Offender (PPO), and was assigned to Cheetham Hill’s Intensive Contact Team.

Lee’s life is back in gear

TRAINEE mechanic Lee’s life is back in gear after years spent in and out of jail.

He was expelled from secondary school in his early teens, and began stealing cars soon after. Having become a father eight years ago, Lee attempted to turn his life around, but was arrested for burglary after getting drunk.

Akiel tells them crime doesn’t pay

TEENAGERS listen when poet and performer Akiel tells them crime doesn’t pay, because the reformed drugs smuggler is speaking from experience.
The father-of-five, who lives in Manchester, spent five and a half years in prison after being caught bringing £250,000 of cocaine into the country.