Caroline Best, a former heroin addict, managed to get her life back on the tracks after she was told she only had one year to live.
She was known not only as a crack and heroin addict but also as a prolific thief. Caroline spent 15 years going in and out of jail because of shoplifting so she could use the money for her vices.
But 12 months ago, she was told that her heart was failing and she needed an operation but doctors wouldn’t be able to treat her until all harmful substances in her body were gone.
With help from PC Stuart Toogood from Erdington neighborhood police team, Caroline managed to turn her life around.
She joined a rehab facility and after an intensive program, she is now celebrating one year clean!
36-year-old Caroline said: “Thanks to Stuart Toogood, I’m now a productive member of society and I thank him for helping me do something I couldn’t do on my own.
“I am living proof that we can recover.”
In addition to being clean, doctors also told her that she no longer needed a heart surgery as her faulty valve healed on its own after she changed her lifestyle.
“Our Offender to Rehab Programme has so far successfully placed nine prolific offenders into rehab,” said PC Stuart Toogood from Birmingham Neighbourhood team.
“Of the five who have completed the programme, one has gained full time employment at Timpson, two have worked as volunteers for Birmingham Mind charity and completed adult education courses.
“They have also been ambassadors for WMP, presented at several business conferences to raise awareness of the programme and the benefits of it for the business community.
“And two people are in aftercare at dry houses − one should be progressing into employment soon whilst the other is about to undertake adult education courses.
“Four other people are currently in treatment and doing well. Several others are in the process of being assessed for rehab placement.”
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Replaced!