I’m surviving ...but at food bank I cried

DAVID Knight’s is a life that has swung between happiness and devastating setbacks.

The former rifleman was born in Camberwell in 1975, the son of actor turned theatre producer Malcolm Knight.

David, who has two brothers, was privately educated at Alleyn’s School alongside actor Jude Law.

At 18 he signed up to join the Royal Green Jackets, one of the British Army’s most famous regiments.

He left the Army around seven years later with an “exemplary” record.

His commanding officer wrote in his service book: “He has been a great asset and will be an asset to any future employer.”

David served a tour of duty in Bosnia in support of the Nato-led force and saw service in Cyprus, Jordan and the Falkland Islands.

After leaving the Army he spent 10 years working at venues and nightclubs despite his mental health issues.

He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2005 after the break-up of his marriage led to his first breakdown. In 2009 he underwent a spell in rehab as he battled alcohol problems.

The following year David left for Spain with just 20 euros in his pocket. He slept on a park bench for a week but a former Argentine air force pilot helped him find his feet.

A sports photographer helped him find work at Real Madrid where he taught English to stars including Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric

David went on to work with the Royal Guard, which provides protection for Spain’s royal family as well as officials at Santander Bank.

David said: “At Santander one of my first lessons was with a CEO of the bank. This man taught me there are four levels of money – survival, comfort, refinement and then finally indecency. I’m living for survival at the minute and I don’t think any ex-soldier should be living to survive.

“I went to a food bank at a church yesterday. It was chaos. I couldn’t take all the noise.

“When two men pushed me to one side in the queue I couldn’t take any more and walked out. I just cried.”