REFORMED ex con Justin Brame claims he has been banned from his favourite shop - a day after he appeared in the Evening Star warning would-be criminals off a life of crime.
By GEORGINA WROE, crime correspondent
georgina.wroe@eveningstar.co.uk
REFORMED ex-con Justin Brame claims he has been banned from his favourite shop – a day after he appeared in the Evening Star warning would-be criminals off a life of crime.
But the manager of the Cash Converters, in Tacket Street, said he was not discriminating.
Manager Peter Farthing, said: "I understand perfectly well the need to bring people back into society but we get a lot of people trying to sell us stolen goods. I am trying to be responsible and assist where I can."
Justin, who now volunteers for charity work, hit the headlines with his heartfelt plea to youngsters not to follow his example of a life of crime.
The 23-year-old who has done time for burglary in prisons, joins a rogues' gallery of 25 people currently banned from the shop.
But not only has he pledged to go straight, Justin says he does everything to comply with the Cash Converter's rules – including giving a thumb print every time he hocks an item.
He said: "They have known me at the shop for about seven years and all of a sudden they choose to ban me.
"Everyone else has praised me for the story in the Star, saying it was a good thing to do. The shop has never had a problem with me before, so why now?"
Justin is so determined to keep on the straight and narrow that, along with Suffolk College, he is organising a series of talks to Ipswich schools hoping to ram home the crime doesn't pay message.
Last week Mr Brame, who works with disabled students at Suffolk College, raised £61 collecting in Ipswich for Mencap.
But according to Cash Converter's acting manageress, Sarah Farthing, Justin is a chatterbox who keeps staff tied up when they should be working.
She said: "We are a business and I can't afford when it's busy to have a member of staff chatting to Justin and keeping an eye on him."
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