9:02am Monday 6th July 2009
By Hayley Court
ON Friday, June 26, the Adver revealed Michael Curtis stole drugs, needles and bandages from the Great Western Hospital.
He carried out the burglary after being rushed to the hospital with his pregnant girlfriend Tara Dawkins, who was miscarrying their baby.
The 29-year-old, of Tynedale Gardens, Park North, was given a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, after admitting one count of burglary and one count of possessing heroin at Swindon Crown Court.
He was also ordered to do 150 hours of community service and observe a 7pm to 7am curfew for the burglary on Friday, October 3 last year.
The former heroin addict — and father-of-one — told the Adver about his need for forgiveness and how he is turning his life around.
He said: “I am very lucky that my partner has forgiven me for the pain I caused her that night.
“I don’t feel I deserve her forgiveness but I am trying my hardest every day to earn it.
“My actions could have cost someone their life and I’m disgusted that someone else could have paid the ultimate price for my addiction.
“I hope that the staff at the hospital can forgive me, knowing that I will regret what happened for the rest of my life.”
Michael and his girlfriend had been rushed to the hospital during the early hours when Tara began to miscarry.
The couple had been arguing during the day and in a moment of weakness Michael - who had been drug free for 13 months - dipped into a stash of heroin he was holding for a friend.
Twelve hours later he woke up at Gablecross police station with no recollection of why he was there.
It wasn’t until he arrived home that he was told by distraught Tara, 26, they had lost their unborn child.
Tests on the heroin found in Mike’s possession revealed the batch had been cut with alprazolam – an anti-anxiety drug known to cause memory loss.
Michael said: “To this day I can’t remember the events of that night.
“It wasn’t until I was prosecuted and was preparing for court I saw the CCTV. It just wasn’t me.
“If I was to describe myself I’d say I’m quite a quiet, gentle bloke.
“It goes to show that it’s not just heroin that addicts have to worry about, it’s all the other chemicals it’s cut with.”
Michael first dabbled in drugs as a troubled teenager in foster care.
At 15 years old he served a six-month prison sentence at Feltham Young Offenders' Institution near Staines for theft.
It was the first of 12 custodial sentences he said he has served for shoplifting and burglary.
Referring to his suspended sentence for the Great Western Hospital burglary, he said: “I got off lightly “I had my bag packed for prison and to be honest if I’d been handed a custodial I’d have deserved every minute of it.
“I’m just glad the judge gave me a second chance. I promise not to waste it.”
Michael said he was throwing himself into a drug-free life and has been volunteering at a well known Swindon hotel where he has been organising business conferences.
He added he wants to be a better parent to his 10-year-old daughter Courtney. Michael said: “I’ve been an addict for all of Courtney’s life and the last thing I want is for her to grow up hating me, or worse, fearing me for what I was and for what I have done.
“Tara is a fantastic mum and she’s shielded Courtney from a lot of my problems.
“I’ve let them both down a lot over the last decade but now I am really looking forward to being a normal family unit. Even a boring life sounds great compared to what I’ve put them through.”
'It has taken courage for Michael to speak out'
THE director of a Swindon drugs advice service has commended Michael for turning his life around.
Bill Carlton, of Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SWADS), said it can take a major event in an addict’s life for them to want to stop taking drugs.
“For some it’s finding a rock bottom — a situation where they feel that life can’t possible get any worse. It seems that this is the case here,” he said.
“Others suddenly realise that they don’t want to lose a job or family and want to stop in order to hold on to those things.”
Mr Carlton said he was delighted at Michael’s plans to help wayward youngsters steer clear of drugs.
“I commend anyone who has the courage to tell their story because there is still very much a stigma surrounding people who are or have been dependent on drugs,” said Mr Carlton.
“He’s got a long academic road ahead of him if he wants to do this properly and I would be delighted to help him reach that point.”
SWADS have 74 counsellors on work placement at their Milton Road offices in Swindon town centre, many of whom have battled drug or alcohol dependency in the past.
“We’re always careful that we don’t disclose too much personal information,” said Mr Carlton.
“Otherwise the client gets involved in the counsellor’s recovery process and not their own.
“One way in which Michael can help others is by sharing his story at a Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meeting.”
For more information on how to fight drug addiction, contact SWADS on 01793 695405 or NA on 0117 9240084.
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