"Ten years ago, I was just like anyone else and wouldn't have believed you if you had told me I would end up a charity case. I had a good job, owned my own flat and had my family and friends around.

However when my circumstances changed and I fell into mortgage arrears I started to really panic. I made one really stupid decision as I wasn't thinking straight - to smuggle cocaine into the UK to get some quick cash to pay off my arrears. 

I got caught at the airport and served a long prison sentence.  My life fell apart as I lost contact with my family and friends who were shocked at what i'd done.  I'm so sorry for what I did.

I got my head down and just got on with my sentence. However, I had a sense of my life slipping away.  I served seven years in custody and when I due to be released I was really thrilled to be free again but so scared as well. I had no home to go to, no family, no job.  I didn't even have any form of ID - they took my passport away when I was sentenced and I had to find £300 to buy another one.  I just had my £40 discharge grant and not another penny in the world.

The prison said St Giles Trust might be able to help me and I asked to be referred to them.  St Giles Trust agreed to meet me on the day I was let out of prison and make sure I was safe and secure.

The minute the prison gate opened I was really exhilerated but quite overwhelmed and started to cry.  I saw a lady waving at me from beside the visitor centre and she called my name out.  She introduced herself as Wendy and said she was from St Giles Trust. 

She took some details on my housing situation and background.  She found me somewhere to stay and arranged for my birth certificate to be sent so I could have some form of ID.

A few hours after I was released I was due to see my probation officer on the other side of London and i was worried as I didn't know how to get there from the prison. She accompanied me all the way to my probation appointment and stayed with me to the end of the day to make sure I had somewhere to go.

I saw her again the next day as she had some private rented bedsits she wanted me to view.  Everything moved really quickly and I managed to secure one.

I've always been a firm believer in supporting myself and being independent.  I knew I was capable of working but was worried about my criminal record and how this might affect me. 

Wendy and her colleagues also gave me advice on how to disclose my conviction to employers and helped me look for a full time job.

I'm now working in a shop and I can't tell you how much better things are now. I'll never forget what has happened to me and this is still very much the beginning of the rest of my life. However, I couldn't have done this without St Giles Trust.  I had absolutely nothing when I came out of prison and St Giles Trust believed in me.  Now I've got my confidence back and I'm starting to rebuild my life.  One thing is for certain - I'm never going back inside."