Life in poverty better than jail says ex-con

A 49-year-old from Dudley, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed despite having to live on benefits after an illness which nearly killed him last year, he will not return to crime.

Grinding poverty means the former inmate, who spent 18 years inside for committing a violent offence, has no TV and takes showers at his friend’s home to keep his electricity bill down.

He said: “I spent a long time in prison – it worked for me, I will never re-offend, I never want to go back.

“It didn’t work for me because I am a pillar of the community – I am not.

“I like a drink and I have done other stuff in the past but I don’t do that any more, I go for a beer once a month with my mate.”

The former inmate has always had a job, while inside he worked either in the prison kitchens, laundry or gardens for £7 per week.

After his release, he found work until he suffered life-threatening problems with his bladder and heart which meant he spent eight weeks in hospital, including two weeks in intensive care.

He now lives on basic benefits and missed out on other payments because his job centre had no record of his time in the hospital.

He suffered another blow when he discovered his rent was not paid so he now he is now paying back arrears to Dudley Council.

He said: “I feel forced back into work, I’m not ready but I can’t live like this, I am broke two weeks every month and I have to go to the food bank.”

“I am living as cheaply as I can in a bedsit, all these things they are cutting are making it harder and harder.”

Despite his current predicament, the ex-con says he would not be better off in jail.

He said: “It’s a sh*t life – I was better off in that I had no worries – other than getting stabbed and murdered on the wing, looking over your shoulder every day.

“It is different if you are the one doing the stabbing – but I am not.”