A FORMER stock-market millionaire and drugs supplier turned public speaker, author and activist visited a school in Wokingham last week.
Shaun Attwood, 45, who faced a maximum 200-year sentence in 2002, spoke to the Year 12 students at St Crispin’s School, in London Road, about his time in an Arizona prison, drugs and how he turned his life around.
The pupils listening intently as he recounted excerpts from his prison blog, Jon’s Jail Journal, which turned the international media spotlight on the terrifying conditions he experienced, including gangs, guards murdering inmates, and dead rats in the food.
Shaun has appeared on the BBC, Sky News and TV worldwide, including an episode of National Geographic’s Banged Up Abroad series, called Raving Arizona. Random House published his life story as the English Shaun Trilogy: Party Time, Hard Time and Prison Time.
Head of Enriched Curriculum at the school Anna Merrygold said: “We were delighted that Shaun could attend St Crispins to deliver his story to the pupils. It was incredibly engaging and thought provoking.
“He challenged the students’ ideas on drugs and prison culture and made many of them aware of the dangers of drug use. The students enjoyed the experience and found his story amazing.”