Lived Experience
Justin has become a sought-after speaker, delivering articulate and engaging presentations on gangs, knife crime, youth justice, and mental health. Drawing on his first hand experience, his talks provide invaluable insight for criminology students, youth organisations, schools, colleges, and anyone seeking to understand the underlying causes of some of Britain’s most pressing social issues.
Please see the testimonials below.
Dr Maria Trzebiatowska
University of Aberdeen
''Justin is charismatic speaker who instinctively knows how to connect with a diverse group of people. His delivery style is warm, engaging, and open, which created a wonderful atmosphere and encouraged a variety of questions from the audience. In essence, Justin helped our students connect academic theories to real-life practices in ways they will never forget. The event was so successful that as of 2018, Justins book will be added to the introductory sociology course curriculum as a case study for crime and deviance lectures.''
Shaftesbury Theatre, London 2024
Dr Tim Turner
Coventry University
''Justin's visit to Coventry University gave our Criminology students a real, grounded insight into the London graffiti subculture. He recounted the thrills of life on the streets, as well as the violence and the fear, bringing The Lost Boyz to life with poigancy and humour. Highly reccommended for Criminology courses.''
Dr Jo Deakin
University of Manchester
''Justin brings a powerful first-person perspective to the issue of youth crime and justice.
He presents a vivid picture of being 'caught in the cycle', taking the audience on a journey from graffiti-gang bravado and through the revolving doors of the justice system. His sessions at the University of Manchester allowed students to connect the academic research evidence with lived experience to raise crucial questions about how we manage young people within our justice system.
Professor David Wilson
Birmingham City University
''Justins book and how he describes his life to the students, constantly challenges them to think about the relationship between criminological theory and practice. What they learned from him and what he has written is invaluable and, for some, will be life-changing .''