James’ Story
James spent most of his life involved in crime, addicted to drugs, and struggling with his self-worth. At the height of his stealing, he was taking roughly £140,000 worth of goods a year. Meeting retailers face-to-face and building connections with them was a turning point that enabled James to see the bigger picture and find his purpose.
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James was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine by the age of 14, and his involvement in crime began even before then. As early as primary school, he was stealing from shops. He served his first prison sentence when he was a teenager, and he says that only made things worse.
“As I got older, the crimes that I was committing got progressively worse. It started off with shoplifting and then I started stealing cars, burgling houses. But shoplifting was always my go-to thing.”
He went through years of the same cycle: committing crime, taking drugs, and attempting to take his life. “I didn’t really care about myself, I didn’t care about anyone else.”
James was frequently in and out of prison. Sometimes he would be released and end up back in prison within two days. With nowhere to live, no support system, and £46 pounds in his pocket, he had few options available to him after he was released. “I’m honest with you, sometimes I used to look forward to these prison sentences because it was a break from having to do that.” Life was bleak and James couldn’t see a way out.
“When I started off young, it was all fun, it was exciting. But then you get older and you start to realise that, yeah, you’re hurting people. But by then it’s too late. The grip that the drugs had on me, it was an obsession.”
A turning point
There were several turning points in James’ life, but his journey of recovery was not easy or straightforward.
The death of his cousin by an overdose was one wake-up call. “That sort of hit home for me then. I didn’t want that to be me.”
Getting the opportunity to speak with retailers whose stores he had stolen from was a crucial step, too. His relationships with local police led to face-to-face meetings with the managers of several large retail chains. “I was shitting myself because I’ve been stealing from her stores for years and years. And I thought she was going to judge me.” Instead, one manager turned out to be an important ally and supporter.
As a result of their conversation, she agreed to pay for James to go to rehab and continued to visit him while he was there. “I felt a sense of like, if this person can forgive me, maybe other people can.”
These conversations allowed James to see the bigger picture. He realised that retail crimes were not victimless. He heard firsthand from employees who had suffered from altercations at their stores, including the story of one man who died from a heart attack after being confronted at work.
These conversations also enabled James to feel heard and understood. “It just made me feel like a human being. Because I felt worthless.”
Finding his purpose
After several relapses and stints in rehab, things finally started to sink in. “I had to get honest with myself.”
After completing his treatment and moving to a different city, James began working with the police to advise retailers on how to prevent shoplifting. He also volunteers as a peer mentor at a drug service and at an Offender to Rehab programme. He delivers presentations to businesses and charities about retail crime and shares his story widely.
At the height of his stealing, James estimates that he was taking roughly £140,000 worth of goods a year. Yet it only cost £3,000 for him to go to rehab. “When you look at the bigger picture, to me, it’s a no brainer.” He is dedicated to spreading this message to criminal justice professionals, retailers, and the public.
“I’ve worked really hard for this, it’s something that I’m really passionate about. I’m trying to change people’s opinion of addicts and I want to change the addicts’ opinion of the retailers.”
James recognises how unique his journey is. “How do you go from being one of Birmingham’s most prolific offenders to now working alongside the police?” And yet, for the first time, James says he feels like he has a voice.
After years of feeling “stupid” and silenced – “who’s going to listen to me, I’m a drug addict?” – finally being listened to has been transformative. “I really love what I’m doing at the moment because I feel I’m having an impact on something. I feel like I’ve got purpose in life. And it’s not to go out there stealing and hurting people.”
The power of dialogue
James was never offered or told about Restorative Justice.
“I think maybe if I would have come across a police officer that sort of understood, then maybe [Restorative Justice] would have been offered to me. But I’ve come across police officers that just wanted to get me into prison.”
Nevertheless, his story is a testament to the power of dialogue and empathy which is the foundation of a restorative approach.
“I think it should just be two human beings meeting each other and making a connection.”
James has a powerful message for retailers: “Sit down with this person, meet them, ask them about their background, and tell them how it’s made you feel. As long as it’s done in a safe environment, what have you got to lose?”
If you are interested in Restorative Justice, find your local Restorative Justice service through our map or learn more about how the process works. If you have a story you would like to share with us, please get in touch via info@why-me.org.