'Why I was a mugger'
Why do muggers attack people? One former street-robber who has more than 100 victims to his name tells BBC One's 4x4 Reports that many muggers do it just for kicks.
Martin Jeffs was only 13 when he first mugged somebody. "I was walking down the street with my mate and we had no money and nothing to do. "We saw this bloke and it seemed easy." Despite serving three prison sentences and a total of 53 months in jail, Martin has robbed more than 100 people. He tells BBC One's 4x4 Reports: "I didn't really think about the people I was robbing at the time, I just thought about the money and how to spend it. Mugging 'gives people a buzz”. "It's easy money and there is always someone to rob."
Not only was he unrepentant at the time, Martin says fun and excitement are a major motivation for people committing street crime. He says: "At the end of the day there is no getting round the fact that a lot of people get a buzz out of it. That's the reason why they carry on doing it. "It gives a lot of people a buzz to know that they have got the power to overpower someone and take their possessions off them, and have them for themselves." Martin, now 23, described how he would target his chosen victims.
Reformed character Martin has since renounced his life of crime and now has a job and a steady relationship. He says he has no intention of going back: "What I've got now is a lot better than what I had then and I'm not gonna risk losing it". Martin is trying to convince Tommy, his former partner in crime, to get a job and turn his back on street robbery. Tommy acknowledges that it will be a struggle. Tommy is back in custody until January 2003 for breaking his parole. He tells Martin: "Saying it and doing it is two different things though. If I don't wanna do something, I just won't do it. "And if I decide to change, I'll change, but until then I'm just gonna be me again."
During filming Martin also met a group of teenagers involved in street crime. They told him they believe they have no prospects and no future. One says that in ten years time he will "be sitting indoors, just doing nothing, no job, nothing." Another adds: "I'll just still be robbing people and that." While depressed by their lack of aspiration, Martin is not surprised and finds their attitudes reminiscent of his own at the same age. However he believes if others like him had the same support he now has from his relationship and job, there would be hope for them too.
1. Why did Martin commit crimes? How did he feel?
2. How did it all start?
3. Has his friend Tommy renounced his life of crime? Why?
4. What reasons did the teenager interviewed give for committing crimes?
5. How did they perceive the future?
6. Do you think there are young people in Spain who turns to a life of crime because they have or feel they have no prospects for the future?
7. Do you think this represents simply a lack of aspiration on their part? Should they be more ambitions with regard to what they can achieve in life?
8. What punishment would you give a mugger?
A prison sentence
A suspended sentence
Put them on probation
Impose a fine
Make them pay compensation
Community service
9. If you were a judge, would your punishment be influenced by the fact they had committed the crime “just for Kicks”?
10. Should juvenile delinquents be let out on parole early? Or should they serve their full prison sentence?
11. What should happen if the re-offend whilst on parole? How much harsher should the punishment be for the same offence?
efltheatreclub.co.uk Dominic Streames (adapted from Breakingnewsenglish.com)