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I’m a mum-of-three and trolls slam me for living in a tiny shed – but I don’t care, I’m mortgage and debt free
A MUM-OF-THREE has revealed that people make fun of her for living in a tiny shed, but she doesn’t care.
Savannah, who lives in Texas, US, won’t listen to those who critique her lifestyle, after she decided to move out of the 1,800 sq ft house in the city that she once lived in for a converted 600 sq ft shed in the country instead.
Now, the self-confessed ‘crunchy mum’ is not only mortgage free, but debt free too.
Posting on social media, the red-haired beauty, who adopts a ‘slow’ and ‘frugal’ way of living, shared a clip as she posed outside her tiny home.
She wrote: “When someone makes fun of me for living in a shed but I’m mortgage free.”
Clapping back to the trolls who don’t agree with her minimalist life, Savannah mimed along to a viral TikTok audio that said: “Not everybody fits in the bad b***h genre. It’s a genre.”
She also then added: “Your opinion is not my reality”.
But whilst Savannah’s custom made shed, which she bought from a family friend and has a living area, kitchen, bathroom and three bedrooms, isn’t the biggest, it is in fact surrounded by lots of land.
Savannah explained: “We bought 26 acres with my parents! We would have bought five-10 acres probably if it was just us. There’s lots of land in Texas.”
The mum-of-three then went on to explain that her tiny shed has a full-size fridge and freezer, as well as a full-size stackable washer dryer in the bathroom.
And whilst they have to make adjustments to accommodate guests, she stressed that “it’s not unfair” on her children, who “still have their decorations…plenty of toys, and a regular full-size twin bunk bed.”
She revealed: “We live in a shed house, and yes, we still love to host. We just may sit on the floor so you can take the sofas.”
Keen to set the record straight with the haters, she claimed: “I may not have a typical “house” but I have a home.
“If you want to keep paying a mortgage and interest, go for it. Been there, done that, not for me.”
Do I need planning permission to convert my shed?
CONVERTING an existing shed or outbuilding into a self-contained living space will usually require you apply for planning permission.
However, there is a “loophole” Brits can use to convert outbuildings into a tiny home without permission.
Planning expert Martin Gaine from Just Planning warned the conversion process is far easier than you may think.
Speaking to The Sun, the Chartered Town Planner of 14 years’ experience explained: “An outbuilding can be built using ‘permitted development rights‘, meaning it does not need planning permission.
“As long as you comply with the various restrictions and conditions.”
One of these is that the outbuilding can only be used for something ‘ancillary’ to your main living accommodation – examples include storage, a gym or a pool room.
If the outbuilding is existing, converting it then into primary living accommodation IS allowed.
Martin explained: “This is because internal changes to an existing building are not considered to be development at all under the Town and Country Planning Act.
But like anything, there is one catch.
The new living accommodation must still have some connection with your use of the main house.
For instance, if your gran is living out there, she must still come into the house to eat.
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @thehotmesshomestead, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed over 8,600 likes.
But whilst people haven’t always been kind to Savannah about her shed home, many social media users were ‘jealous’ of her debt free lifestyle.
If you want to keep paying a mortgage and interest, go for it. Been there, done that, not for me
Savannah
One person said: “You are living my dream.
“I literally cannot wait to sell my house and downsize EVERYTHING. The white picket fence life SUCKS.”
Another added: “My dream!”
A third commented: “Not gonna lie, I’m jelly.”
Whilst someone else chimed in: “I can’t even afford a shed.”
Britain’s ‘White House’ with 40 bedrooms, a ballroom & underground swimming pool is sold to mystery buyer for £139m
BRITAIN’S “White House” with 40 bedrooms, a ballroom and an underground swimming pool has been sold to a mystery buyer for £139m.
The Holme sits alone on four acres of private land in Regent’s Park, central London, and is one of the most expensive homes ever sold in Britain.
An architecture critic once described the 207-year-old three-storey residence as the “definition of Western civilisation in a single view”.
The property covers an area of 29,000 square feet and comes with 40 bedrooms, eight garages, an underground swimming pool and a tennis court.
The mansion, originally listed for a record-breaking £250m, has its internal décor adorned with millions of pounds worth of gold leaf.
Its sale price of a far lower £139m still makes it the second most expensive home ever sold in the UK.
The crown remains held by 2-8 Rutland Gate, a 20-room mega mansion overlooking Hyde Park in London that sold for £210m in 2020.
Found next to the park’s Open Air Theatre and Boating Lake, The Holme features many classical architectural designs and has a “presidential” feel.
The Grade-II listed property has a four-column Corinthian portico and columns on a central bow that overlooks the gardens and sweeps down to the lake.
Unfortunately, there are no available pictures of inside the property due to privacy and the limited number of potential buyers of the home.
Roarie Scarisbrick of Property Vision described the home as a “once-a-decade kind of property” to the FT.
The land on which the property is located had originally been stolen from the Church by King Henry VIII before Oliver Cromwell then took the land during the 1600s.
In 1806, a plan to build 50 villas in the park fell through, leaving just eight completed properties of which one, The Holme, was taken by Decimus Burton.
Following some exchanges, the family of former Saudi defence minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud came into ownership after buying it for £34m in 1991.
In 2016, the property was used as collateral for a loan that the prince used in part to pay for the lease on a private jet.
Then, in 2017, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman ordered a crackdown on the royal family in a purge that sent some to jail.
While Prince Khaled was not among them, the clampdown coincided with a “massive” deterioration in his finances, according to advisers who spoke to the FT.
The Holme was then put back on the market in 2023 after creditors demanded repayment of a loan for a private jet.
He also sold his £70m home in Paris according to the WSJ and is thought to have sold two expensive yachts.
Luxembourg-based wealth management company Zedra’s UK subsidiary purchased The Holme for the hefty price tag, although it has yet to be revealed who will move into the home.
A source, however, told The Times they believe the home was purchased by an “American tech billionaire” to have a base in the city.
History of Regent's Park
REGENT'S Park (officially known as The Regent's Park) was once part of the extensive Forest of Middlesex.
After the dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1540, Henry VIII acquired the Manor of Tyburn and create the Marylebone Park hunting ground, which covered almost the same area as the 400 acres of Regent’s Park today.
It remained in royal hands until the end of the Civil War in 1646, when it came under the control of the victorious Commonwealth.
Oliver Cromwell sold it off in the form of leases, to pay wages arrears to the New Model Army and more than 16,000 trees were felled during this period.
Then, in 1660, Charles II was restored to the throne and the park was returned to the Crown.
Charles reportedly executed the chief leaseholder and ignored the claims of the others, before proceeding to sell his off his own leases.
In 1668 the land was ‘disparked’ and for the next 100 years was used primarily for dairy farming and hay making.
In 1760 King George Ill surrendered the revenues from Crown Lands in exchange for the Civil List and in 1794 John Fordyce, the Surveyor General, made a new and accurate survey of the Park.
It identified the land as suitable for new development, despite the local heavy clay soil and an absence of ground wells for fresh water.
In 1806 the architect John Nash (1752-1835) and draughtsman James Morgan became joint Architects to the Department of Woods and Forests.
After the leases at Marylebone Park were reverted to the Crown, Nash was instructed in 1810 to develop a new exclusive development for the park, with the land reserved for the “wealthy and the good.”
Under the patronage of the Prince Regent, Nash planned a palatial summer residence for the Prince, 50 detached villas in a parkland setting and elegant terraces around the exterior of the park.
This was all part of an ambitious plan, to develop The Regent’s Park and lay out an elegant new street, Regent’s Street, to link it to St James’s Park and the Prince’s London residence, Carlton House.
However, a lack of profitability sunk the plans, leaving just eight completed grand villas.
Between 1826 and 1828 the Zoological Society of London established a menagerie at the northern end of the park that is better known today as the London Zoo.
Moment Marco Silva snaps at reporter over question ahead of Fulham’s clash against Man Utd
MARCO SILVA was in no mood to discuss the dire form of Manchester United ahead of Fulham’s Sunday night clash with the Red Devils.
The Fulham boss shut down questions regarding United’s poor form and insisted that he was asked about his team rather than their opponents ahead of the Premier League bout.
Silva didn’t want to be pulled into questions that he felt could disrespect his opponents before their visit to Craven Cottage tomorrow.
After being asked about Ruben Amorim’s criticism of his team as being the “worst team in Man Utd history”, Silva snapped.
He said: “As I said before, we are here to talk about Fulham vs Manchester United.
“If you want comments about Man Utd and if you want comments about what people are saying then you have to ask different people and a different manager, not me”.
Silva refused to engage in any open criticism of Man Utd despite a second attempt from the reporter to compare Fulham’s form with United in recent weeks.
He added: “We are going really, really well. It’s not because of the position of Man Utd. Sorry.
“Talk about ourselves. You want to talk about ourselves. You mention the position of Man Utd and I was a little bit confused”.
When Silva was probed one more time to comment about Fulham sitting above Man Utd in the table, he immediately cut off the reporter and refused to discuss his opponents any further.
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“No, sorry. Sorry to interrupt you. We are in a very good position because we are doing really well.
“Nothing related to the position of Manchester United. We are doing really well and we are in the position we are because we have been strong enough and we have been competitive enough.
“And if you are there it doesn’t matter what is the team that is below us or above us. We are there because we deserve to be in a different position.
“But it’s about ourselves not about the position of the team we are going to play against. I repeat again, I have massive respect for them.”
Fulham are currently three places and seven points ahead of Ruben Amorim‘s Man Utd side in the Premier League table.
While their form has seen them lose just once in their last 11 games in all competitions – a stark comparison to Man Utd who have lost five of their last nine games across all comps.
Amorim was left fuming after his side fell to a 3-1 defeat the hands of Brighton last weekend, labelling his team as “the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United.”
While he was also involved in a furious outburst in the dressing room, ultimately damaging the TV used to display tactics ahead of games during his emotional reaction.
Asked what led to the outburst after united’s 2-1 win over Rangers, he explained: “I didn’t think, that’s why. I’m a young guy and sometimes I make a mistake.
“That’s why I don’t [usually] speak after the game. This game, I needed to talk and maybe it was a mistake.
“Then I get more nervous and go to the [press] conference really nervous and say things you should not say.
“I don’t promise I will not do it again. I don’t know, but I’ll try to improve”.
From Del Boy’s flat in Only Fools and Horses to Monica’s apartment in Friends – how much sitcom abodes would really cost
THEY are often the staple of every hit sitcom and now the real-life prices of properties from the likes of Only Fools and Horses and Friends have been revealed.
Monica’s spacious – and very purple – New York condo once housed her, Rachel and Chandler.
Even at the time the TV abode could be considered pricey for just three residents in a prime location.
But Friends fans discovered during the series that Monica and Rachel paid just $200 a month in 1994, which is equivalent to $426 today – £347.
It was thanks to Courney Cox’s character’s grandmother, who left her a rent-controlled lease.
But these days, renting the two-bed flat would cost an eye-watering £5,815 a month.
The figure, collected by QR Code Generator, is based on a similar property in West Village Manhattan.
Elsewhere in New York, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment from Sex and the City is now worth £3,613 a month in today’s prices.
Coming back across the pond, Del Boy and Rodney’s Peckham flat from Only Fools and Horses would cost approximately £2,545 now.
To buy a three-bed similar home in the area, house hunters would be set back £587,000 compared to paying just £30,000 in 1981.
Lee Mack‘s house from hit BBC sitcom Not Going Out has served as a backdrop for their everyday life, located in the London Docklands.
To rent an apartment in the area today would see you fork out a approximately £1,944 per month.
Going back to the US and Sheldon and Leonard’s place in The Big Bang Theory would cost £2,567 for a two-bed.
The duo’s condo was based in the fictional Los Robles Apartment Building which was also home to their friend Penny, who was played by Kaley Cuoco.
Full list of beloved sitcom house prices today
Collected by QR Code Generator here's the average monthly rent for the iconic TV abodes today:
Friends – Monica and Rachel flat – £5,815
Sex and the City – Carrie’s apartment – £3,613
The Big Bang Theory – Sheldon and Leonard place – £2,567
Only Fools and Horses – Del Boy and Rodney’s flat – £2,545
Bottom – Richie and Eddie’s place – £2,442
Not Going Out – Lee and Lucy’s house – £1,944
Rising Damp – Rigsby’s house – £1,110
Two Points of Larger and a Packet of Crisps – Gaz and Jonny’s place – £803
Thousands of low-income households to pay council tax for first time or see huge bill rise as discounts slashed
TENS of thousands of households are facing a council tax bill shock as local councils slash vital support.
Over the past few weeks, several councils have confirmed they are reducing the support they offer or will remove certain discounts to cover gaps in funding in 2025/26.
It comes as some local authorities have asked to hike council tax by unprecedented levels of up to 25% next year as they warn they face bankruptcy without the extra cash.
It means that some households will pay council tax for the first time or have discounts cut, pushing vulnerable into further difficulty, experts warn.
Emily Whitford, Senior Public Policy Advocate and author of StepChange’s council tax research, Looking through the keyhole, said the debt charity has seen evidence that reducing support has pushed more people into council tax arrears.
“Council tax has become an increasingly unaffordable burden for many StepChange clients – with council tax arrears now at an average of over £1,900 per client, up by 70% since before the pandemic,” she said.
“The need for comprehensive council tax support for households on the lowest incomes is crucial to avoid worsening debt and bailiff action.
“Yet our research, published last year, found that one in five clients who fell behind on council tax payments had their council tax support reduced in the six months prior.
“The planned hike in council tax bills from April, coupled with a reduction in the support available to low-income households, will likely push those already in precarious situations into further difficulty.
“It’s absolutely vital that the Government, as a priority, ends the postcode lottery of council tax support by increasing funding so that 100% reductions can be re-established for those on the lowest incomes.”
What changes are being proposed?
Slough Council, Waltham Forest Council, Somerset Council, Nottingham City Council and Sutton Council are some areas preparing to slash support offered to low-income households this year.
Dudley Council
Dudley Council in the West Midlands is consulting on increasing the minimum amount people getting a reduction must pay to 60%.
It is currently awaiting approval from the cabinet before being put before the council.
Councillor Steve Clark, cabinet member for finance, said: “As we work to finalise the budget for the next financial year, we are taking difficult decisions to make the necessary savings of just under £42 million.”
London borough councils
A number of councils around Greater London have warned they need to reduce support as they struggle financially.
In mayoral documents published this week by the Greater London Authority, it said thousands of households around the Capital could be forced to pay council tax for the first time next year.
“Under the case studies provided as part of borough consultation proposals, the lowest income working age households could see increases in the sums they are required to pay,” the documents say.
“In some boroughs, households currently making no contribution could be required to pay up to 35% of their liability – this is likely to include those occupied by vulnerable groups such as carers, lone parents with children under five, and those on disability benefits.
“In boroughs where 100% support is not currently offered, the lowest income households could be required to pay up to 50% of their council tax bill from April 2025, compared to 20-30% currently.”
Councils at risk include Waltham Forest Council, which confirmed thousands of residents will no longer be eligible for any support following a vote last month.
Low-income households previously paid as little as 15% of their council tax, but from April they will pay as much as 43%.
Cllr Grace Williams, leader of Waltham Forest Council, said: “We recognise that people are still struggling, but the scale of financial challenges the Council faces means making some really difficult decisions so we can continue to run vital services for residents across the borough.”
Sutton Council is also planning to make some of its poorest pay for the first time by removing the 100% exemption so that “every household pays at least 5% council tax, including those out of work and on a disability benefit”, according to council documents.
Nottingham Council
Nottingham Council is planning to implement several changes to its council tax support scheme from April, including:
- reducing the maximum level of support to 80% of their council tax liability
- changing the maximum level of council tax support to be based on a band B property, so those in larger properties will have to make up the difference
- increasing the minimum weekly award will to £5 per week, up from 50p per week – expected to impact 568 households
- A minimum income floor will be introduced for self-employed applicants.
A consultation on the changes took place between October and December last year and the council said it had “taken on board the views and comments”.
Around 19% of Nottingham City Council’s households get some form of council tax support, equating to around 23,964 households.
Council Leader, Cllr Neghat Khan, said: “Following the consultation, a recommendation is being made to the Council’s executive board that the scheme continues to provide a maximum amount of 80% support for working age claimants.
“This will ensure that eligible low income households continue to get the level of support they need. Minor changes are being proposed which will provide savings and make administering the scheme more efficient.”
Slough Council
Slough Council in Berkshire is reducing its maximum level of support from 100% to 80%.
This would affect 1,019 households which currently receive the full 100% discount, meaning they would have to pay council tax for the first time.
However, it is also proposing to double its hardship fund from £175,000 to £350,000 in 2025/26 using its Household Support Fund resources to help those most in need.
The final decision will be made this week at a cabinet meeting and it will then be implemented from April.
Councillor Mabu Shaik, lead member for I.T customer services, revenue and benefits, procurement and performance, said: “Ultimately, we need to run a scheme which is viable and affordable in the future, but which also offers targeted support to households on the lowest income.
“Being able to increase the amount of money available through the Council Tax Support Hardship Fund is good news and would be for those who need exceptional support.”
Somerset Council
Somerset Council has confirmed it will make a raft of tweaks to its discounts to help raise around £3.88million following a public consultation.
Around 12,600 low-income households are expected to pay more council tax under the changes, the council said.
These include:
- Reducing support for working-age applicants to save £2.3million: The lowest income homes will still get a 100% discount, but this will now be tapered to 50%, 25% and 10% depending on weekly earnings
- Introducing a non-dependent deduction to save £1.5million: council will introduce a flat rate deduction of £10 per week for every non-dependent living in the home, eg. adult children
- Restricting support to Band D council tax levels: restricting support to Band D Council Tax levels (£86,000) and above, so people living in larger or more expensive houses would pay more council tax – to save £86k.
- Restricting the backdating of council tax reduction to three months, down from 12 months.
Cllr Liz Leyshon, Somerset Council’s lead executive member for resources, said: “We have had to consider many heartbreaking decisions in response to the financial emergency and there are few more difficult than this.
“We’ve listened to the public feedback and have taken steps to protect many of the discounts on offer.
“We are committed to supporting our most vulnerable residents and that is why we are proposing to keep the 100% discount for those most in need and working to ensure our residents receive the maximum support to which they are entitled.”
What council tax support is available?
THERE are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.
‘It’s good he’s not dancing around’ – Luke Littler responds to darts rival’s new walk-on song
LUKE LITTLER admitted he “fell asleep” before setting up another blockbuster clash with Michael van Gerwen.
The 18-year-old ground out a 6-4 win over Dimitri Van den Bergh in his Dutch Masters opener – after the Belgian had shaken up his walk-on routine.
However, the teen sensation needed to hit three 180s in the last two legs to get over the line after a mid-match slump.
On going up a gear, he admitted: “I had to. Dimitri was behind me all the way.
“But two-nil up, fell asleep and I had to find other gears.
“The World Series is a massive thing. You go to all these different countries. But I would say it’s match practice for the Premier League.”
Van den Bergh surprisingly dumped his classic Happy walk-on song and dance for the occasion.
It was replaced by Play Hard by David Guetta.
When asked about it, Littler replied: “I don’t really know. I think it’s good for us players that he’s not there dancing around!
“So we get to walk-on quicker. He can take his time. It’s a good song.”
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Littler now faces Van Gerwen in the quarters, a repeat of their World Final clash at the Ally Pally three weeks ago.
He added: “Obviously I’d like to get another win and progress to the semi-final.
“I think Michael might be thinking he wants revenge, especially in his backyard.
“It would be a good thing to beat him in his backyard.
“Like I said, win that game and guarantee myself a place in the semi-final.”
Luke Littler prize money breakdown
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:
World Championship 2025 – £500,000
World Championship 2024 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
TOTAL: £1.43 million
MVG will go into his rematch with Littler sporting a broken toe.
The three-time world champion suffered a freak injury while on holiday with his family in Thailand.
Asked if the injury would hamper him in the tournament, he replied: “[It’s] annoying, but you can’t do anything about it.
“It happened last week on holiday. Accidents can happen. I enjoyed my holiday. I definitely had a nice rest.”
Horror double stabbing as woman, 33, & man, 35, found with slashed neck & stab wound in the street
A 33-YEAR-OLD woman and a man, 35, are being treated for “life-threatening injuries” after a horror double stabbing.
The pair were knifed in the neck and stomach following two horrific attacks in Hull.
The man, who also suffered a head injury, was found with a stab wound to his stomach in Buckingham Street area at around 2am today, said cops.
Just an hour later, at 3am, a 33-year-old woman was found in nearby Rosmead Street, with a stab wound to her neck.
Humberside Police said the incidents appear to be connected.
The force also stressed that there was “no wider risk to the public”.
Detective Inspector Mark Skelton from the Major Crime Team said: “We believe these incidents to be connected and I would like to offer my reassurance that the individuals are believed to be known to each other.
“There is no wider risk to the public.
“Enquiries remain ongoing, including house to house enquiries, and trawling CCTV to establish the full circumstances and identify those involved.
“A 35-year-old man and 33-year-old woman remain in hospital for treatment to injuries which are thought to be life-threatening at this time.
“Members of the public can expect to see an increase in police presence and there are multiple scene guards in place on Barnsley Street, Buckingham Street, and Rosmead Street as our investigation continues and Crime Scene Investigators carry out their enquiries.”
Alternatively, you can report anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
I was left with MAGGOT-infested six-inch gaping wounds in my legs after deadly drug addiction ruined my life
A DAD-of-one has told how he was left with six-inch weeping holes in his legs after suffering a deadly drug addiction.
Two decades ago, Paul Hannaford’s sores were so severe that he faced double amputation – but now he uses his injuries to stop children from following in his footsteps.
Last year, drug awareness advocate Paul, 55, celebrated 18 years clean of drugs and alcohol after his heroin and crack addiction nearly killed him.
He spent £2million on drugs over two decades and during his darkest days he was injecting himself 50 times a day.
Now Paul has swapped crack dens for schools across the country and has dedicated his life to sharing his harrowing life story in brutally honest workshops.
Paul told The Sun: “Kids cry in my workshops, they pass out. I’ve had thousands of kids faint.
“I show them pictures of me in hospital with maggots in my legs and tell them what it’s like to be brutally stabbed because I owed drug dealers money.
“I told them what it’s like to be locked up for 24 hours a day in a prison cell and become very lonely.
“I tell them about what it’s like to not see family at Christmas because I’m sat in drug dens sharing needles with other addicts.
“I’ve not just stepped out of an office or downloaded some rubbish from the internet to put on the screen for kids.
“Kids these days are hardcore, they need evidence and I’m living evidence of the consequences of drug abuse and gang culture,” he explained.
Despite his brutal approach, he’s not received one complaint from a parent during his years of teaching.
Instead, he receives countless calls and emails from parents and school teachers in tears begging him to hold workshops for their kids.
Paul, from Essex, revealed: “I had a head teacher phoning me in tears an hour ago – she was so desperate. She wanted me to visit her school in Kensington.”
“We’ve got problems. I went to a college in Middlesborough recently and I spoke to 200 16 and 17-year-olds across four different workshops. My talk with them about drugs, gangs, county lines and addiction was their first-ever talk.
“I then went to a prison, also in Middlesborough, and sat in front of 60 murderers who are coming to the end of their prison sentence.
“They’ve all been locked up since they were teenagers and all their murders were drug related. My talk with them on drug addiction was their first-ever talk.
“These men have cost the taxpayer £60million,” he added.
Despite being clean from drugs for 18 years, the life-changing effects still haunt him.
He has to bandage his legs every day as they still ooze blood and puss.
He carries the scars from the seven times he was stabbed, spent years behind bars and was cut from his daughter’s life after he left her mum just two weeks before she gave birth.
Stressing the importance of giving children the hard facts from the mouth of someone who has experienced the chaos and devastation of drug addiction, Paul made the point: “How many ten-year-olds are in prison now for murder? None.
“How many 10-year-olds are there running a gang with knifes in their pocket? None.
“Every gang leader right now walking around with a big knife in his pocket and every man in prison for murder was once ten.”
Paul was introduced to cannabis when he was 13 and within six months he was smoking it every day.
His school work suffered, he quit his beloved football team and his behaviour worsened, resulting in him being sent to a Pupil Referral Unit in Romford.
It was at the unit that he met 16-year-old gang members who forced him into carrying knives for them.
He said: “I got bullied a little bit by the gang to hold the drugs and go out and commit crime, then the violence started and I was carrying knives.
“I never stabbed anyone but I’ve seen a lot of stabbings. And slowly that was all I knew. I knew nothing else. I was a kid.”
He moved up the gang ranks and eventually became one of the leaders.
When he was 21 years old, Paul tried heroin for the first time.
“I never thought I’d get into class A drugs but I did. I was injecting heroin and it destroyed me,” he said.
He spent 10 years living in crack dens where he’d inject heroin into his hands, legs, feet, neck and groin.
“I’d also started to inject crack, which makes your veins thrombosed. Some days blood would squirt everywhere and I’d have large clots and open wounds,” he grimaced.
His mum later told him that every time she got a knock at her front door, she thought it would be the police telling her that he was dead.
By the time he was in his mid-thirties, he was holding dealers at gunpoint and stealing their supplies.
Paul admitted: “I knew that it was only a matter of days that I would be dead.”
With the police hot on his heels, Paul’s health had deteriorated so dramatically that he was hardly able to walk.
“I was in such a poor state with open wounds in my legs, I was terrified so I handed myself in.
“I know now that by doing so it saved my life,” he said.
After walking into his local police station he was arrested and was admitted to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex where he was handcuffed to a bed.
The 35-year-old’s health was in such a dire state that he spent his entire 12-week prison sentence at the hospital.
“The hospital was going to amputate both my legs but they put hundreds of maggots in them instead,” Paul said.
Larvae therapy involves applying live maggots to an open wound to help it heal.
They eat away at the dead tissue and bacteria, leaving behind healthy tissue.
“I also had 22 skin grafts and then after that, they took the handcuffs off and released me. I had nowhere to go, the only thing I owed that day was an old blood-stained tracksuit in a carrier bag,” he said.
Paul was offered a slot at a rehab centre in Somerset, but he wasn’t able to check in for another week.
With no family support and nowhere to go, Paul said: “I had a choice that day in the hospital, which was either go to rehab or back to a drug den and probably die.”
During his time at the hospital he’d befriended the staff so one of the nurses let him stay until he could go to the rehab in Weston super-Mare.
“For five days they fed me, showered me and clothed me. That nurse saved my life,” he said, still in awe of the staff member’s kindness.
After the grueling stint in rehab purged his body of the toxic substances and he worked towards getting clean, Paul decided he wanted to give back and try to stop as many young people making the same mistakes he did.
“The bottom line is if we continue not to give the kids in our care education on these harmful situations that grow in every community, then I strongly believe that things will just get worse moving forward.”
Despite hitting his target of holding workshops for one million children, Paul has decided to keep going.
“I’ve got about 10 years left in me for work, legs pending. I go to the gym every day. Life is ok today. My mental health is ok. I keep to myself, pay my bills, pay my taxes – life is decent.
“But, I had a goal to educate 1 million kids and I got there last year. So now I said I’ll do another million. That will take me another 10 years.”
During one of his school visits he had a chance encounter with his daughter, who was in year 11 at the time.
After slowly building a relationship and making amends, Paul beamed as he told us that he now sees his daughter “all the time”.
To find out more about Paul’s incredible story and his work, visit his website here.
GETTING HELP:
If you think that you have a drug addiction then please contact your GP.
You can also visit FRANK for honest information about drugs and to find local treatment services.
If you are having trouble finding the right help, call the FRANK drugs helpline on 03001236600
Or click here to visit the NHS website for more advice and support