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A look inside the life of former criminal Andrew Pritchard

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A look inside the life of former criminal Andrew Pritchard
A look inside the life of former criminal Andrew Pritchard

ANDREW Pritchard's life of crime landed him in some of the UK's most notorious prisons.

While living among some of the nation's most dangerous criminals, Pritchard was forced to face the consequences of his criminal actions and make the decision to change his life.

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Andrew Pritchard found himself living among some of the nations most dangerous criminalsCredit: Andrew Pritchard, Founder, AP Foundation

Who is Andrew Pritchard?

From a young age, Andrew Pritchard was involved in crime.

Raised in the London borough of Hackney and Stoke Newington, Pritchard was part of Britain’s first mixed-race generation born in the sixties.

His first encounter with the prison service was in October 1986, when he was sentenced to 18 months in youth custody.

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From there, Pritchard became more and more involved in the criminal underworld.

By the age of 21, Pritchard was organising some of the largest illegal warehouse raves in the country during the house party craze of the late 1980s.

At the same time, he was also masterminding some of the world’s biggest drug smuggling operations.

However, the consequences of Pritchard's crimes finally caught up with him in 2015.

Did Andrew Pritchard go to prison?

In March 2015, Pritchard was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Woolwich Crown Court, after he was found guilty of intent to supply and perverting the course of justice. 

Due to his sentencing and crime, Pritchard was classed as a very high-risk Category A prisoner and was sent to one of Britain's most secure prisons - HMP Belmarsh.

It was there Pritchard decided to change his life and make a difference.

While observing life inside Belmarsh, Pritchard felt as though something needed to change within the prison.

So he began discussing the problems with a number of other senior Category A prisoners and slowly a plan of action began to emerge.

With the permission of the prison Governor, Pritchard developed a rehabilitation programme - and it was a success.

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What does Andrew Pritchard do now?

Andrew Pritchard is now the executive founder of the AP Foundation - an organisation designed to be a force for positive change, assisting young offenders and helping them turn their lives around.

On the foundations website, Pritchard says: ''I want them to learn from my mistakes, to help them find a pathway away from crime to a fulfilled life where they can achieve their potential.''

Collectively, those working at the foundation are helping to make the streets safe, giving offenders hope, an education, an alternative to the cycle of violence and a real chance in their lives to realise their worth. 

Shanine Bruder

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