Table of Contents

1 An Education of Sorts-Uncle Jimmy Helps 2 First Offence to Hangman's Noose 3 Maw, Madness, Mayhem and Me 4 Painting Lesson, Screaming Colours of my Heart 5 Fearful to Feared: Violence Equals Respect 6 Sent Down-So Much for Jimmy Boyle! 7 Rage to Ritalin-Who is the System For? 8 A Sad Twist to the Beautiful Game 9 Does Anyone Have Boundaries?10 A Night at the Theatre (the Hospital Variety) 11 On the Rampage-Living Up to 'Type' 12 Juvenile Chain Gang to Barlinnie Prison 13 Dark Days, Rainy Nights: More Living Hell 14 High Maintenance Lifestyle and Reputation 15 Out of Control or Just Plain Indifferent? 16 The Best Interests of the Child 17 Wilful Deviance: Road Map for Borstal 18 Reformative Aims, Brutal Regime 19 Alternative Reality: Strangeways/Strange Days 20 Sins of the Children Visited On the Parents 21 Blood and Violence Within Prison Walls 22 Lone Wolf Surprised by His Reflection 23 Crossroads but no Signpost 24 Meeting My Beautiful Boy 25 Back to Barlinnie-Barricades Not Required 26 More than One of Everybody 27 Know Me Better Now? 202 Epilogue 211

About the Author

As a local hard case, author Allan Weaver took no prisoners. Neither does he in this compelling work in which he tells of a life of violent episodes and chaotic early life.

Reviews

'Despite all the tribulations he faced in his early life Weaver conveys his experiences with humour and affection. I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be reminded of why they embarked on a career in the probation service': Probation Journal 'When Mr Weaver talks about the importance of tackling the causes of crime, he does so from an unusual position of authority and experience': The Scotsman 'There will be few who can match the range and depth of his understanding... Weaver tells his story with unflinching frankness. He does not glory in the life he lived, but takes the reader into a world where it could seem to be just a part of normality. Long-term prisoners are wont to speak of their lives as a journey. One puts down this book reminded of how very long that journey can be, of the distant, half-known country where it can have begun, of the price it can exact and the importance of nourishing hope': Independent Monitor 'A book that makes painful reading at times, painful to read of the damage that Allan Weaver caused to himself and others and their property, but also painful to read how structures often combined, some would say colluded, to take him further away from the person he could have been. But it is a book that helps us better understand Allan Weaver, and those like him, who, given a chance, can get away from their past and help build a better future': Internet Law Book Reviews