‘It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed in the crossfire’

“IT will only be a matter of time before someone loses their life – and it could be someone innocent caught in the crossfire.”

That’s the stark warning from a former gang member who fears Huddersfield’s recent spate of gun violence may get worse before it gets better.

John Fox, now 44, remembers a time when his life was dominated by taking drugs, selling them and avoiding the attentions of other gangs looking to ‘tax’ rob him and his associates.

He has decided to speak out as a warning to younger people involved in criminality – and to let people know that it’s possible to go straight and lead a good life.

John, originally from Brighouse but now living in Mirfield, said excessive drinking and anger issues had led him into a downward spiral which had started at a very early age.

“I can remember I was eight years old when I picked my first drink up. By 11 and 12 I was drinking spirits. In about 1987 or 1988 I went to school (Brighouse High) intoxicated and it ended up on the front page of the local newspaper.”

In his early teens John says he “drifted into drugs” including taking cannabis but later he went on to inject amphetamines while he was living in a bedsit in Gibbet Street at Halifax.

At the age of 18 he was involved in a serious assault on a man which landed him with an eight-month jail sentence in Leeds Prison.

And although he studied catering while in prison he also began “dabbling” with heroin which led to becoming a dealer in drugs when he was released.

“When I got out of prison I floated around dealing heroin and taking it. I ended up with a heroin habit. I was 22 when I kicked heroin. My grandad helped me to detox by letting me into his house for five days.”

John recalls that the drug taking led him to lying to his own family and stealing from them.

“I was beyond help in them days. I didn’t want to help myself. I had a chip on my shoulder. I thought the world owed me a better deal in life.

“I was in and out of trouble with the police who wanted to lock me up.”

Police at one point believed he was involved in the possession of amphetamines with a street value of around £14,500 but the case didn’t reach court due to a lack of evidence. “I was in Waring Green (Brighouse) and was causing a whole heap of harm and trouble. I am not proud of it,” he says. At 29 he finally got fed up of living such a chaotic life. “I’d had a number of failed jobs I didn’t want to help myself. I had a chip on my shoulder. I thought the world owed me a better deal in life. and relationships and I got sick of the lifestyle. I was broken to be honest. A friend’s mum took me to the drugs service and I threw myself into my recovery.”

At first John did voluntary work with drug and alcohol users and became part of the Kirklees Users Forum. His involvement would eventually lead to full-time employment working to help others kick their addictions.

His own rehabilitation was helped by Mark Reynolds, of Rawthorpe Amateur Boxing Club in Milnsbridge, who helped provide John with a new focus in life – training and fitness.

“I started to attend Rawthorpe Boxing Club in 2004. The club helped me build my fitness, my selfesteem and gave me a purpose. It was a stepping stone that helped me to become involved in helping other people. It is a real asset to the community.

“Mark and the boxing club had a massive impact on my recovery. Mark opened his doors to people in the community who were struggling.”

Around this time John became a full-time employee of Huddersfieldbased drug and alcohol treatment group Lifeline where he worked for 10 years helping young people who