One of the world's top Thai boxers, whose life has been transformed by the sport, is looking for further success in the new year and is hoping to give something back to his community. David Roberts meets Darlington champion Michael Dicks.

It was one PE lesson which changed Michael Dicks' life.

The shy 21-year-old readily admits he was no angel in school.

The former pupil of McMullen House in Darlington, a school for students who have been excluded from other establishments, was in and out of trouble in his early teens.

But for one visit to Paul Hamilton's boxing and martial arts academy in Bondgate, Darlington, with his school at the age of 16, his life could have taken a very different path.

"I was just very lazy, I didn't want to do anything," said Michael. "I was always in trouble, not with the police or anything, I was just very naughty.

"I don't know what I would be doing if I wasn't boxing. I think I would probably be unemployed and doing nothing with my life.

"It has taught me discipline that I never had before."

Michael began going to the gym for one hour a week to take part in Thai boxing with the school.

However, when the school stopped taking pupils there, he began going to the gym of his own accord.

Now, the young man who only a few years ago found going to school difficult, regularly trains twice a day, every day, in preparation for a contest.

To date, his dedication has brought him a British title, a European title and an Intercontinental title.

In February, he will fight in Manchester, and he is also the favourite at a tournament in Scotland. He also has regular televised fights booked in stadiums across Europe.

Later in the year, Michael will be travelling to Thailand to pit himself against some of the best fighters in the world.

"Over there, Thai boxing is like football is over here. It's the number one sport, they sell out stadiums," he said. "I get a really good reception when I go there.

"I would like to try and become one of the stadium champions over there, which is basically like a world title."

Paul Hamilton, who is also Michael's trainer, and has himself fought at the highest level, believes he has the potential to compete at the top.

Regularly training alongside Michael are Francis Jones, one of the top boxers in the country, and Abdul Mohammed, the British Cage Fighting Champion.

Paul believes the three of them can serve as an inspiration to other young people in Darlington.

"Here are three of the top fighters in their sport all coming out of a small town like Darlington," he said. "We are working with the youth offending team, and we get a lot of kids coming in wanting to meet Michael.

"When he fights abroad, a lot of the fights are televised and he'll get people coming up to him in the street.

"A lot of people have natural talent, but it's how you prepare and how you work that's important."

Ultimately, Michael says he plans to bow out when he is at the top and open a gym when he hangs up his gloves.

He said: "I've been all over the world, to places I would never normally have been.

"It would be nice to give something back to kids who come from similar backgrounds to mine.

"It's definitely something I would recommend."