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 flower 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. Id 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 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 was bored.