Former gangster turned life round
A reformed gangster is coming to West Lothian to tell how he has turned his life around.
Former East London hard man John Pridmore is visiting Livingston to reveal how nearly killing a man led him to turn over a new leaf.
John will tell how he went from living in a drug-funded penthouse to delivering inspiring talks to more than 2.5 million people when he visits St Andrew’s RC Church, Victoria Street, Craigshill during a week-long Parish Mission.
He arrives on Saturday (March 10) and will begin speaking at the church on Monday (March 12) at 7pm, telling how it took nearly killing a man before he turned his life around.
The event has been organised by Livingston and East Calder Catholic Parishes.
John said his problems with the law began at a young age.
He said: “At the age of 15, I was put in a detention centre, and at 19 I was put in prison.
“I spent a lot of that time in solitary confinement.”
Working the doors at London nightclubs led John, from Hackney in East London, into a life of drugs, women and fast cars.
At the age of 27, he was living in a St John’s Wood penthouse with more money than he knew what to do with.
He said: “I was asked to drive Land Rovers from Dover to London and I’d get paid £5000 a time.
“It was obviously drugs I was involved in, but by 27 I had more money than I could spend.
“But I still had a void in my life, so that led to me getting hooked on drugs.”
Shortly after, John was involved in a fight that nearly killed a man outside a London nightclub.
He then experienced something so incredible that it would change his life forever.
It was then that he began working with young people, showing them the error of his ways.
John explained that he was keen to share his experiences to try to help other people.
He said : “I realised there was a better way of living. “I decided to share my story with people.” John has since released a biography called ‘From Gangland to Promised Land’.
He has also travelled to Los Angeles to meet and have discussions with Paul Kemenson, the Hollywood producer responsible for films such as ‘Ronin’ and ‘American History X’.
Father Kenneth Owens, parish priest in Livingston and East Calder, said he is delighted that John is coming to Livingston to tell his story.
Father Owens said the week of events is open to people from outwith the parish.
And he hopes the sessions will be well attended.
He added: “The Parish Mission is being held each evening from Monday (March 12) to Friday (March 16) at 7pm in St Andrew’s Church, with a different theme each night.
“Masses each morning will also be held at 9.30am.
“We look forward to welcoming people from far and wide to our parish for this great event.”
Livingston and East Calder Catholic Parishes comprise of St Andrew’s, Craigshill, St Peter’s, Deans, St Philip’s, Dedridge and St Theresa’s, East Calder.
However, the Parish Mission is open to anyone who wishes to come along.
I spent a long time in solitary confinement