A FORMER criminal with over 100 convictions has turned his back on a life of crime to raise money for charity and find a job.

John Wallace of Red Hall, Darlington, called time on his career of criminality after being released from a six-month prison sentence for reckless driving two-years-ago.

The 41-year-old admits his past is nothing to be proud about – blighted with around 170 criminal convictions – but he is determined to turn his life around and has dedicated himself to volunteering for charity.

He has helped out at St Teresa’s Hospice in Darlington and is organising a bike ride from Darlington to Newcastle in September to raise money for the charity and give himself a useful goal.

He said: “I’ve done a lot of stupid things in my time; it started off with shoplifting when I was little and it moved on to burglaries and driving offences.”

“One morning, after I’d got out of prison, I just woke up and thought ‘what am I doing, I am too old for this’, and I decided to change my life.”

Mr Wallace has been job-hunting for almost two years but says his former life hangs over his future prospects as nobody is prepared to give him a job.

Darlington ward councillor Bev Hutchinson has mentored him and hopes his charitable efforts will help convince prospective employers that Mr Hall is a changed man.

She said: “He is trying so hard, but no-one will give him a job because of his convictions.

“It’s a shame because he is an example of somebody who is desperate to work, to get off benefits and make something of his life.”