DEZ Brown, of Emmanuel Christian Centre, Erskine Road was jailed as a teenager for manslaughter but is now the leader of Spark 2 Life.

It is a project that goes into schools and community centres and targets children with high records of absenteeism and bad behaviour, teaching them about the dangers of gang culture.

The scheme has been a success in the Wandsworth and on Monday night Mr Brown and his fellow project workers were awarded a National Justice Award in the Outstanding Achievement in Tackling Youth Crime category.

Mr Brown received the award at a ceremony in the City of London, hosted by newsreader Fiona Bruce and attended by guests including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Lord Chancellor Jack Straw.

He said: "I hope Spark 2 Life becomes a great tool to work with friends, the media and community partners in tackling and preventing youth crime by reaching the hearts and minds of young people. I pray this is just the beginning."

As a teenager Mr Brown became involved with knives and was subsequently jailed for manslaughter.

He has since turned his life around and now recounts his experiences to teenagers and challenges them on how they perceive knife, gun and drug culture.

Mr Brown now hopes to bring Spark 2 Life to Waltham Forest where he already works with children and young people