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Former Derby gang leader says prison gave him 'another chance at life' | Former Derby gang leader says prison gave him 'another chance at life' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
An ex-gang leader who served 10 years in prison for a shooting has thanked the police chief who locked him up. | An ex-gang leader who served 10 years in prison for a shooting has thanked the police chief who locked him up. |
Carlus Grant once ran what police called Derby's most violent criminal gang and was put behind bars in 2009. | Carlus Grant once ran what police called Derby's most violent criminal gang and was put behind bars in 2009. |
Meeting Derbyshire Constabulary's then Ch Supt Andy Hough he said his jail time helped him change his ways. | Meeting Derbyshire Constabulary's then Ch Supt Andy Hough he said his jail time helped him change his ways. |
Now Mr Grant advises organisations on gang culture and warns young people about being groomed into a life of crime and violence. | |
A decade ago the 34-year-old had a dangerous reputation and headed up the notorious A1 Crew. | A decade ago the 34-year-old had a dangerous reputation and headed up the notorious A1 Crew. |
But having served his sentence at HMP Grendon - a therapeutic community prison - he said he has "another chance at life." | But having served his sentence at HMP Grendon - a therapeutic community prison - he said he has "another chance at life." |
"I could have ended up dead," he said. | "I could have ended up dead," he said. |
"I could have ended up killing somebody. Who knows what would have happened. | "I could have ended up killing somebody. Who knows what would have happened. |
"Without prison, I don't think I would have found a way out." | "Without prison, I don't think I would have found a way out." |
Mr Grant was caught after he ordered the shooting of a man at a house party in Derby's Allenton area in 2008. | Mr Grant was caught after he ordered the shooting of a man at a house party in Derby's Allenton area in 2008. |
"At that time Carlus was about as dangerous as you could get," said Mr Hough. | "At that time Carlus was about as dangerous as you could get," said Mr Hough. |
"He has the potential to have so much influence over young people. He can now show them that's not a life you want to take, and can be a very positive role model if he wants to be." | "He has the potential to have so much influence over young people. He can now show them that's not a life you want to take, and can be a very positive role model if he wants to be." |
'Terrorised Allenton' | 'Terrorised Allenton' |
Mr Grant said he was "lured" into dealing drugs when he was a teenager with gifts from older criminals. | Mr Grant said he was "lured" into dealing drugs when he was a teenager with gifts from older criminals. |
Aged 16, he used money he had stolen to buy his first gun, establishing a gang with a friend and recruiting teenagers to carry out their crimes. | Aged 16, he used money he had stolen to buy his first gun, establishing a gang with a friend and recruiting teenagers to carry out their crimes. |
They continued to buy more weapons and were making thousands of pounds selling cocaine each week. | They continued to buy more weapons and were making thousands of pounds selling cocaine each week. |
Mr Grant admitted he "terrorised" Allenton but said he was "100% sorry" for what he did. | Mr Grant admitted he "terrorised" Allenton but said he was "100% sorry" for what he did. |
"I feel in some respects the damage we caused the community is kind of irreversible now." he said. | "I feel in some respects the damage we caused the community is kind of irreversible now." he said. |
"It's far from a glamorous lifestyle. | "It's far from a glamorous lifestyle. |
"I feel like I owe a debt of trying to help, and that is why I continue to do my bit for the community and show them another way of dealing with conflict." | "I feel like I owe a debt of trying to help, and that is why I continue to do my bit for the community and show them another way of dealing with conflict." |
His turning point came while in jail when he heard of the death of 15-year-old Kadeem Blackwood, killed in a gang-related feud in Derby. | His turning point came while in jail when he heard of the death of 15-year-old Kadeem Blackwood, killed in a gang-related feud in Derby. |
He joined a prison programme in which inmates discussed and acknowledged the harm they had caused. | He joined a prison programme in which inmates discussed and acknowledged the harm they had caused. |
"I just couldn't believe it had ended like that," he said. | "I just couldn't believe it had ended like that," he said. |
"Part of me did feel we'd created this whole negative atmosphere, this gang culture, and for that I feel responsible." | "Part of me did feel we'd created this whole negative atmosphere, this gang culture, and for that I feel responsible." |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |