We all heard the story last week of Carl Drewett. The young man with links to a white supremacist group got the most hideous tattoo on his forehead whilst in prison a few years ago. He's now out, anxious to mend his ways and start a new life, but unable to afford treatment to remove the tattoo. But help has arrived; the Herald reports:
Radio DJ Simon Barnett has come to the aid of a former skinhead wanting to start a new crime free life.
Barnett will pay $2000 out of his own pocket to help fund the removal of Carl Drewett's distinctive tattoo from his forehead.
The money will go towards the $2500 quote to remove the tattoo.
Barnett said the donation was a "hand-up" rather than a "handout".
"I did it because I think he's a genuine person," he said.
Drewett, 28, was trying to raise money to remove his "Skinhead" tattoo so he could start a new life.
His former probation officer had looked into various options, including applying for money through government agencies, to assist Drewett in collecting money for the laser tattoo removal.
Drewett said he regretted getting the tattoo when he was in prison at 23.
Barnett's donation is a kind one indeed, for which he should be commended. He outlines the reasons behind it; read on:
Barnett said he admired Drewett's courage and humility to take ownership of his mistakes and ask for help.
He felt the only way Drewett could move forward and change his life was to have the "ghastly" tattoo removed and he wanted to be able to help.
"He'll never get ahead with that on his face. That tattoo is going to prevent him getting a job."
Barnett said Drewett's tattoo had created a lot of on air debate.
"When I talked about it on air it really bugged a lot of people who didn't think he should be helped.
"People were saying he's got himself into this mess he's got to get himself out of it but sometimes how do you get yourself out of a situation if you don't have a hand-up," Barnett said.
"It annoys me that people cast these people aside. Nobody is prepared to give them a chance.
"We all make mistakes. My feeling is that this guy is really trying, from what I can gather, to get his life sorted out.
"He doesn't subscribe to the belief system he had when he got the tattoo done.
"He's tried to disassociate himself from his former crowd.
"I feel he is genuine. We've got to trust he's as good as his word. Then the responsibility really is his.
"At least I'll go to sleep easier at night knowing I've played my little part."
Carl Drewett is 28 years old, and he's at a turning point of his life. He has a clear choice; to try and move forward, putting the past behind him, and repaying the faith that Simon Barnett and others have placed in him. Or he can drift back into his former life, and likely as not he'll end up back in prison. Barnett has given him a hand up, and Drewett's job prospects will be enhanced by having the tattoo removed. Cleaning up his forehead however is only a small part of cleaning up his life, and he is sure to face challenges.
We wish Carl Drewett well. New Zealand will be a better place if he is sincere in his desire to live a changed life, and become a productive member of the community. The best way that he can repay Simon Barnett's act of generosity is to make good on his promises.
11 comments:
I think you left out the bit where it was reported that he has only just recently been sentenced to 12 months home detention for a violent offence.
The Herald reported last Thursday -
"He was convicted in the Rangiora District Court on Friday on a charge of intentionally injuring a man and two charges of drink driving causing injury. He was sentenced to home detention and was also disqualified from driving for a year and a day."
I am the first to encourage helping others however, people should have to help themselves first.
He is still offending. How is wiping this tattoo, and making it so easy for him to not suffer any consequences of such a silly choice, helping him or teaching him anything?
We all have to pay for our mistakes - unless you are Carl Drewitt i guess.
A loan would have been more appropriate in this case,in my opinion.
OK - I hadn't seen that Jackie, so thanks for the heads-up.
You only support the idiot Simon Barnett because he is a high profile opponent to the smacking bill. He is a fool and your support now looks ridiculous in light of Jacqueline's comments.
A friend of mine invented what he calls "The Rule of 28". It's based on the Roman Catholic idea of "give me a child until he is 6 (or 7, or whatever it is) etc". The theory is that kids often go a bit wild in their teen years through to early 20s, but from say 20-28 have a chance to sort themselves out. Drewett is 28 so the age fits. Whether he truly intends to turn his life around remains to be seen, as others have commented on. But good on Simon for giving him a chance. It's up to Drewett to decide what he does with it from now on.
No one ever learns from their mistakes when they are fixed too easily.
Sometimes suffering is a blessing, and a reminder of why we will never make stupid choices again.
I don't think it is right that he just had this problem fixed for him.
I have a pipe shaped scar on my stomach, from an unfortunate incident with a crack pipe.
Anyone want to pay to have this fixed for me?
Not likely - and i wouldn't want them to. It is a daily reminder of why i will never look back. One day maybe i will see if something can be done about it - and pay for it myself - because it was my own stupid fault.
To be fair Jackie, there's a small difference between an abdominal scar hidden by clothes, and that grotesque tattoo. And as Jonno notes, the ball is in Drewett's court.
As I've said before though, you have my admiration for the changes that you made to turn your life around. Let's hope that this guy has the courage that you showed, and stops being a drain on society.
Send him to a boot camp! That'll work...
A government ignoring evidence to play populist politics last election huh?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10739701
I back Simon on this. He's not my cup of tea and neither is this little punk, but if this helps in any way at all, then it is a good thing. It's a punt, but what isn't these days with a non-evidenced based money man gambler at the helm?
Jacqueline-"white supremacist"? Just like Tahu Potiki,now a regular columnist in "The Press". and former CEO of Ngai Tahu. His background is not not one that young Maori should follow:
affiliated with white Power supremists.
Became a skinhead in Christchurch.
Illicit drug use, GBH, committed to Moana House,Dunedin. Went on to marry Hana O'Regan daughter of Tipene- union short lived. Hana is smart. Went on to be CEO of NT with terrible results. Just like white supremacists such as Carl, Tahu,is sociopath-plausible, manipulative but with a very dark side.
Barnett and his mate have been working out of a caravan since February and have just been told their studio won't be fixed for another two years.
Maybe he's cracked.
With that tattoo, he's got no chance of becoming a positive member of society. He'll never be able to get a job, and where do you go from that? He's obviously willing to break from that lifestyle, and losing the identifying tattoo is critical for that change. Sure, maybe he can't afford to get it removed himself - but how much money do we (as taxpayers) waste on people who have no desire to remove themselves from this lifestyle?
I'm of the opinion that people have take responsibility for their previous actions. It seems this guy is, and is willing to change, but just can't afford to remove the biggest barrier to this change.
Good on Simon, and others, for throwing their money to his cause, and I hope this fella makes good on his promise - and becomes a worthwhile and contributing member of society.
Wally - I would agree with you if it were not for the fact that Carl has only JUST been sentenced to 12 months home detention for violent offending and drunk driving.
He has not YET changed his life, or his behaviour yet he is making out like the tattoo is the only thing holding him back.
KS - i realise there is a difference between my scar and this tattoo however there is also a difference between someone who has learned from their mistakes and someone who is still offending and blaming that offending on his tattoo.
It would have been nice to see proof that this guy has changed his ways before he put his hand out for money to fix that stupid thing on his face.
Change is hard for a reason - because it teaches us a lesson. Carl will have learned nothing now because this has just been fixed for him.
All the best to him, but i don't agree with this.
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