Reformed addict finds hope in art (From Warrington Guardian)

Reformed addict finds hope in art

TWENTY years ago this week Alan Burns was jailed for two years at Warrington County Court.

Found guilty of burglary and theft charges, he had been leading a life of crime to fund his Class A drug habit.

Fast-forward to 2005 and things could not be more different for the reformed character, who is now displaying his own artwork in the Pyramid - the same building where he was jailed in August 1985.

Mr Burns, aged 39, an ex-resident of James Lee House said: "It's a strange feeling to be here. When I was due in court, I was led through the cells, which is now the Olive Press restaurant!

"I can remember that day 20 years ago so vividly, and I am so pleased with the way things have changed since then!"

He said between 1991 and 2003 he was a heavy drug user, and in that 12-year period he served 13 prison sentences.

Serving time in prisons all over the country and failing health saw Alan reassess what he wanted from life.

Helped by the team at James Lee House, he has been slowly and steadily weaned off drugs.

Julie Collins, a tutor at Warrington Collegiate, convinced him to go along to some of the arts projects and residential weekends put together for residents which even included a trip to Spain and led to the display at the Pyramid, the former site of the County Court.

He added: "If people want help it is there for them in abundance, I can enjoy my life now and I would never want to go back to drugs - ever."