Overcoming a past fuelled by drug addiction, crime, violence and prison sentences isn't easy. But a Swindon man is using TikTok to try to help others like him beat their demons. 

Paul Simmons, 44, Walcot, appears to be a regular, happy, family man, living with his partner Zasha and two children Frankie, 8  and Lindon, 6, but things weren't always like this for him. 

Growing up he went down a dark path that saw him addicted to drugs, homeless and a criminal. He served a total of 22 years behind bars. 

Now, in recovery from his addiction, he is using the social media platform to encourage others to turn their life around, acting as a mentor and a point of contact for people struggling. 

Swindon Advertiser: Paul with partner ZashaPaul with partner Zasha

"I was brought up in an abusive household, taken out when I was nine to a residential setting in Bath and abused again there. I managed somehow to leave school with all my GCSEs and at 16 I made myself homeless rather than going home," he said.

"While homeless I got into heroin and crack cocaine which took away all my worries, all of my fears, all of my dramas, but from there, my life went seriously downhill.

"I ended up with serving 12 months for robbery and after that, I lost myself and any sense of direction. I went from begging to committing serious desperate robberies and kidnaps, things got really out of control, really quickly."

Swindon Advertiser: Paul in 2016 suffering with addictionPaul in 2016 suffering with addiction

Paul ended up with a 20-year sentence and while in jail he started re-educating himself and completed a health and social care degree with the Open University. 

After being released he met his partner and started a family and has now been clean for three years and two months. He is now using his time to help others, beginning with FAcebook groups and now TikTok videos.

"I'm not your average TikToker, there's nothing I don’t know about prison and addiction, but it's important to show that you can go from being a homeless heroin and cocaine addict to sorting your life out and turning it around.

"My aim is to help as many people as possible with support so that they can find a way of getting clean."

@pauldrugmentor #cleanaddictsfriendsandfamiliesworldwide #thecleanteam #wedorecover #nonactiveaddict ♬ original sound - Paul Simmons

Paul uses the non-active approach which is a recovery system that focuses on individuals rather than groups like the 12-step system. 

One of his viewers, Si Richmond, also from Swindon has spoken about how Paul's videos have helped him. 

He said: "I met Paul through TikTok and I was moved by his message, I was an addict many years ago, but the whole vibe of his message is support.

"It isn't only TikTok, he has one-on-ones with people who are in trouble, talking them through the ways and tools to recovery."

@pauldrugmentor Reply to @crazyaddictjoshua #cleanaddictsfriendsandfamiliesworldwide #addmeonfacebook #Mtzmob #thenonactiveapproach #thenonactiveaddict ♬ Planet Earth - Peder B. Helland

When asked how it feels to hear positive things about what he's doing, Paul replied.

"It feels amazing. I was someone who people would avoid in the street but now people are asking me for advice," he said. 

"I don’t regret my life, I just wish it didn’t take so long for me to understand that I was wasting it and hurting people. Now if I can prevent someone from having to go out today and commit a robbery by them listening to me for five minutes then I'll be happy."

You can find Paul's TikTok videos on his page - https://www.tiktok.com/@pauldrugmentor?lang=en