Schoolchildren were taught a hard hitting lesson on the dangers of drug and knife crime.

Paul Hannaford is a former gangster who ended up in prison after a path of crime, which began in secondary school. During this path, he was stabbed seven times and struggled with an addiction to cocaine and heroin.

He now spends his time trying to educate the younger people of today of how important it is to stay out of trouble. In April, Mr Hannaford, originally from East London, visited Hertswood Academy and Elstree UTC in Borehamwood, and Queens School in Bushey.

This month, Summerswood Primary School hosted a talk which was attended by primary school children in year five and six from across Borehamwood, while he also shared his story with secondary school pupils at Purcell School in Bushey.

The talks are a series of workshops which have been organised by Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership.

Mr Hannaford said: Paul said: “Having the opportunity to speak to young children and help steer them away from danger is very important and fulfilling.

“If I can use my experience of knife and drug crime to educate children then that is a considerable positive to come out of a difficult experience.”

Loran Kingston, community safety intervention officer, said: “Paul’s talks are not intended to scare young people, but to provide an honest account of the perils of drug taking and to warn about how drug taking can spiral out of control and lead to dependency.”

Learn more about Mr Hannaford’s story by visiting his website at http://www.paulhannaford.com/life-story