The robber
Peter Woolf, 50, is married to Louise, and works as a counsellor to rehabilitate criminals ...
‘It was easy to break into Will’s house. Just one push and the lock broke. I quickly took some gold jewellery and some money from upstairs. I was feeling lucky.
But when I was coming downstairs and I bumped into Will in the hall, I suddenly felt frightened. I thought, “He’s a big guy. If he wanted to, he could hurt me.”
I tried to escape. I didn’t want to hit him, but I did. I’m not a violent guy, but I just did what I had to do. There was a ower pot, and I smashed it on his head.
After I was arrested, all I felt was a big sense of relief. I was going back to a place I knew well. I’d been in and out of prison for 18 years, for theft, burglary and fraud.
I started using drugs when I was 10 and became an addict
at 14. I’d hit rock bottom. I stole because it was the only thing I knew how to do. I knew it would only lead me back to prison.
I was given a three-year sentence. It was while I was in jail someone mentioned Restorative Justice. I couldn’t see the point, but I agreed to do it because I was bored.
It wasn’t until I started walking down the corridor towards the library that I got scared.
When I got there I sat down and just looked at the oor. I said the same rubbish I always used to say to the police. But Will was furious, and I was shocked. I thought, “My God, I did all this.”