The group helped me move to the good side of life
in the direction of Open Door, where he now volunteers.
The weekly peer support group at St Luke’s Church, in Southsea, sees probation service users and former offenders unite to get advice on how to stop re-offending.
Mr Bayes said: ‘I was on the wrong side of the law for most of my life. I’ve a criminal record longer than the Queen’s arm, but during my last sentence I’ve moved to the good side of life and I’m enjoying myself so much more as a result.
‘The penny dropped when my probation officer asked me to join Open Door and I met the volunteers who explained what the group was about.
‘I’d always hated the idea of telling other people my issues, but the group helped me to work my problems out, to learn how to manage my anger and to stop taking drugs.’
Statistics show up to 27 per cent of the UK adult prison population is made up of care leavers, despite less than one per cent of under-18s being placed into the care of their local authority each year.
Mr Bayes has ‘never looked back’ to crime since going through probation, and relishes the catharsis of supporting others once in his position.
‘I’ve learned that listening to other people and helping them with their problems is the best way for me stay in good shape myself,’ he said.
‘I absolutely love helping at Open Door and I’m living proof you can go through an awful lot in life but still be able to come out the other side.’
In its five active years, Open Door alone has helped its services users go on to get qualifications, paid employment and housing.
It was a turning point for former Royal Navy submariner Graham Butterworth, who was caught drunk in his car with keys in the ignition.
The incident in 2015 saw him arrested, charged and landed with a 12-month community order after pleading guilty.
The 58-year-old said: ‘I had no intention of driving anywhere but my life was in chaos, I was a total mess and it was an accident waiting to happen.
‘Probation got me into an alcohol rehabilitation treatment centre and I started to get clean.’
Mr Butterworth previously spent 15 years working on submarines, but faced an uphill battle to adjust to civilian life after leaving the navy a self-confessed ‘binge drinker’.
His addiction lost him his accommodation, after going through two divorces.
‘Anyone who tells you it’s easy leaving the armed forces is lying,’ he said.
‘When you are in the military everything is done for you and you are wrapped in cotton wool, so leaving that is a shock to the system.
‘I poured the drink myself, but it was encouraged in the navy. I’d drink solidly for a week and be comatose for two days.
‘My mum was an alcoholic too, I don’t know whether it’s hereditary or not but when it gets a hold of you it can destroy everything.’
Mr Butterworth now volunteers at Open Door, after being directed to the service at the end his community