I was in prison in the past, and it was when I was inside where I first tried drugs, and I got addicted to heroin. When I was released I found it hard to stay clean, but my family moved up north and since then we've both been able to get some more support from local services up here. They're incredibly helpful and I've been doing really well up here.
I'm living with my mum at the moment in a rented flat with our dog, and she can sometimes need a bit of help. She suffers with COPD, and has had a stroke, but she is also incredibly supportive of me so we do make a good team.
The next step for me is work though now. I've never had a proper job before, but I'm really keen to start a role in a warehouse during the night shifts when it's a bit quieter. Then after that, I can look into starting a full-time role once I have settled into the world of work. It seems like a step in the right direction so I'm keen to see what's next!
Shane's identity is protected for his safety due to his conviction history.