Bringing the message home – Crime does Not Pay!

Our Sixth Form Students were visited on Monday 31st October by an ex-prisoner Shaun Attwood. Shaun had been a former Economics student in Widnes during the 1980’s where he became a successful stockbroker who continued his success and eventually became a millionaire, living a highly rewarding life. Shaun then moved to Arizona, as he had family there, and where he continued to develop his skills in the financial world. Underpinning all this success however was a lucrative and dark world of drug use and drug dealing.

Shaun was feeling invincible in his newfound world and never for a moment thought that he would be apprehended. Then, without warning, Shaun was arrested by a high intensity police squad who sentenced him to nine years imprisonment in some of the toughest prisons in America. Shaun explained his story to the students reminding them that what he did was wrong and if he could change his actions he certainly would, he explained the impact of his decisions on his family and how his entire physical and mental wellbeing suffered gravely. Shaun has also campaigned openly for years about the conditions in prisons and the impact of the gang culture and how horrific that experience can be. It is such a powerful and impactful talk.

The students engaged terrifically well and asked copious questions at the end. Two of our students dressed up in the prison clothing and read an excerpt from one of Shaun’s books. The feedback was excellent and there are several links that students can explore as a follow up to Shaun’s testimonial.

Thank you, Shaun, for helping the youth stay away from drugs and learn from your mistakes. Yours was a truly inspiring, emotive, and moving story.

See Shaun’s Books