A man jailed more than 30 times for offences related to his drug dependence is trying to pay back to society and make amends.
Jamie Lee Headey was at one point a renowned shoplifter who received 33 prison sentences as he desperately tried to fund his dependence to crack cocaine. But the 41-year-old, who has spent the past 22 years in-and-out of prison, has now been clean for 17 months and has finished his prison licence for the first time in his life.
The dad-of-five told the ECHO of the "guilt and shame" he feels for his past life - and is now focused on making "as many amends to society and the people of Liverpool". Mr Headey, who grew up in Childwall, said "the best way I can do that is to live a normal, law-abiding life".
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But Mr Headey, who is currently living in a transitional supported housing in Crosby run by Lotus Sanctuary, said residents have been "neglected". He claimed there has been a number of failings from the community interest company including a lack of abstinence enforcement, lack of catered programmes for residents, and a "lack of safeguarding" from staff who are overworked.
Mr Headey told the ECHO he does not want all the hard work he has done in the last year-and-a-half to be undone by the ongoing issues. He added the "anxiety and stress" of the situation has become "unbearable" - and fears the lack of stability will impact the abstinence he's worked so hard for.
Mr Headey was born in Toxteth but was adopted three weeks later, moving to Childwall where he lived with the Headey family. He said: "I couldn't of asked for better parents or family - I love them unconditionally. Other families would have disowned me for my behaviour over the years but they've stuck through everything for me."
As a child he loved sport, running cross country and having football trials for Liverpool FC. But through his teenage years he started to fall into trouble and petty crime and cannabis drug use quickly progressed to a dependence on Class A drugs including crack cocaine.
Mr Headey said his dependence on drugs led him to spend the next 22 years of his life in-and-out of prison. He told the ECHO: "My addiction really started when I got out of prison after serving a four year sentence in 2006. My son had died while I was inside so I didn't really get a chance to grieve. I started using crack cocaine and it soon became clear to people around me something had changed. I started isolating myself and losing friends. That's when I started shoplifting to fund my addiction."
He said the shoplifting got so bad he was banned from the city centre and received over 100 convictions for offences which included stealing just pounds worth of items. He added he felt "relieved" every time he went back to prison.
Since being released from prison in April 2021 the now 41-year-old has devoted himself to abstinence and making amends for his past. He completed a three month rehab at Rise in Toxteth - an experience he credits as "saving his life". He later moved to supported living in Fazakerley with his now-ex partner before moving to Lotus Sanctuary in Crosby.
He told the ECHO : "Everything seemed to be going well and for the first month things seemed really positive with no issues at all. But after a member of staff left there was a lack of welfare checks from management on the residency. People there all have complex needs and issues with their mental health and addiction.
"There was no promotion of anything close to a welfare programme and they didn't enforce abstinence - that's when it all started to fall apart. It's really uncomfortable for us who are actually in recovery, staying abstinent and are motivated to stay that way."
He added when he's approached management his concerns have fallen on deaf ears - and now residents have been handed eviction notices, something he is refusing given the lack of correspondence from management. He said: "The pressure has added to everyone's already overflowing plates - it's been unbearable to be honest."
A spokesperson for Lotus Sanctuary told the ECHO they were unable to comment on individual cases. They added: "We offer residents accommodation and support around tenancy sustainment and building up their skills to live independently. We are not, and do not claim to be a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. Each resident would have been advised of this when signing up for one of our properties.
"It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in the position where we must close one of our essential services. This decision was made because the local authority has refused to grant us exempt status. We have carried significant losses whilst continuing to work with residents in this area but this not sustainable and we have had to serve notices to vacate our property. We are continuing to work with residents to ensure that they are rehoused in alternative accommodation."
Mr Headey, who has been working with Liverpool City Council as a lived experience speaker, said "it hasn't been easy" and credited his support network, his children and the arrival of baby Jamaari, now four-months-old, as keeping him focused on his recovery.
He told the ECHO : "I'm not willing to give everything I've done up despite the ongoing issues with Lotus, but I've lost faith in the system. I've got a thousand relapses in me but not another recovery - I couldn't do this again. The fear of going back lives with me.
"I want somewhere I can call my own and where I can have my children come and stay with me more often. But I also want to make amends for my past. Keeping clean is an indirect amends to the city and society.
"They've paid a high price for my actions. I've got a lot of guilt and shame for my past but I'm trying to fix all my wrongs slowly but surely."
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