Cheltenham hellraiser turns her life around from booze to a bright future
TWO years ago Hayley Lloyd was regularly downing half-a-bottle of vodka before heading into Cheltenham "to cause trouble".
But now the 22-year-old says she has turned her life around.
Hayley, from Bishop's Cleeve, was notorious in Cheltenham for plaguing pubs and clubs with drunken and abusive behaviour.
Fuelled by alcohol, Hayley racked up a long criminal record, which included assault, criminal damage, theft and assaulting a police officer.
In 2008, she terrorised three children on a drunken rampage, punching them in the face and using a can of deodorant and lighter as a makeshift flamethrower.
Now, Hayley says she has not touched a drink for more than six months and is planning to turn her back on her former lifestyle – in favour of gardening. "When I look back, I can hardly recognise the person I was," she said. "It shocks me to think of the things I did and the way I used to live.
"Things got really out of hand. People across town knew who I was for all the wrong reasons. Getting into trouble with police was like a badge of honour to me and my friends. We thought we were being clever."
Hayley was sentenced to 150 hours' community service for the 2008 attack, during which she took on tough manual labour as part of a scheme managed by the Gloucestershire Probation Trust.
Hayley admitted she would sometimes start drinking in the morning to ease her hangover from the night before.
She and her friends would swig half-a-litre of vodka each and drink 12 cans of lager before heading into town.
"When I look back on it now, it is obvious my problems stemmed from drink," she added. "Every time I got involved in criminal behaviour, alcohol was at the heart of it."
As part of the Community Payback scheme, Hayley took on a range of jobs at Prinknash Abbey Park, from mowing lawns and bricklaying, to raking and digging.
"It was hard work and at first I hated it," she said. "But gradually I got into it. I started to take pride in the jobs I was given and began looking forward to coming.
"It was definitely a turning point for me. It gave me some self-esteem and a sense of achievement. It also gave me skills which helped me to get a job."
Now employed as a gardener for Blue Sky, which finds work for rehabilitated offenders, Hayley is hoping her example will serve as a lesson to others.
"I hope other people can learn from my mistakes," she said. "When I see people out on the town drunk and tottering around in their high heels, I just think 'what are you doing?'
"If I could go back and change the past I would. But I'm still young and I have a chance to put things right. I'm proud of how far I've come."
Hayley's rehabilitation was overseen by probation staff who worked with Reach, which runs social enterprise projects across Gloucestershire for offenders and the long-term unemployed.
Reach director Matthew Haynes said: "We're extremely proud of Hayley. She has made a huge amount of progress and completely changed her life.
"Now she has served her punishment and is giving something back to society."
More than 350 people work in the county on Community Payback initiatives, from gardening to cooking.
Liz Riches-Jones, of Gloucestershire Probation Trust, said: "It's important people realise the work undertaken by offenders under Community Payback is designed as a punishment. It is not meant to be easy and they are not molly-coddled in any way. It is meant to help rehabilitate, but the motivation to change has to come from the individual."
If there is a project in your area which could be addressed as part of the Community Payback programme, contact 01452 389200.
OPINION, P8
36 Comments
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by James, cheltenham
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 1:42PM
“I have just read the last comment from a Michelle calling herself as Hayleys partener..What you put stating Hayley as intelligent and hard working just makes me laugh..You sound intelligent too intelligent to be with a person like that..People in this society have their opinions about this vile girl as so do you.. I really feel sorry for the people who lives she has ruined..they don't get the help to recover not like her who carries on with her life making out shes changed for the better..!!!!!!!!”
by Michelle, Cheltenham
Monday, September 06 2010, 2:55AM
“I, first of all, would like to thank all of the kind strangers that are leaving supportive comments for Hayley and standing up for her with regards to the vile no-good comments that are being posted.
I'll introduce myself now as Hayleys' partner, and I am more than proud to say that. I accept her for everything she's done and everything that she is now.
I can agree with some of you slander speakers with regards to the report being factually incorrect in some parts, - one particular statement producing an image of "threats to burn children". The words 'burn' and 'children' are falsified, but reporters will say what may and I would like to thank the writer for the rest of the article and appreciate The Echo for presenting the write-up and giving Hayley a much better image than they portrayed two years ago.
A note to readers would be to not believe everything that is written - and as for believing what strangers are putting in the comments...that's a little bit silly!!
One thing that does make me feel slightly saddened is that obvious fact that the majority of people leaving the negative comments have a dire grasp of the English language.
Now, I know who I appreciate more in society - a person who is intelligent and a multi-skilled, hard-working citizen, albeit with a negative history.
Those who can't even grasp or don't bother to use our language properly don't stand a chance, good luck writing your curriculum vitae and filling in application forms!
Enjoy your lives - and I only mean that to the sincere commenting people.”
by Master Matthew Hopkins, Wenham Magna
Saturday, September 04 2010, 4:58PM
“Firstly, one should arm thyself with the Malleus Maleficarum, to proceed against the wench in the appropriate manner. Secondly, the accused should be thoroughly deprived of sleep.Then, take a blunt knife and proceed to cut her arm, and if she doth not bleed, if guilt is certain. However, if she bleeds, it may be necessary to use the ducking stool. If she floats, she is a witch, and should be burnt at the stake, may God have mercy on her soul. Amen.”
by justice, glos
Saturday, September 04 2010, 1:41PM
“captain catt ,when it comes down to vile scum abusing children some of us feel angry, the other morons of this sick society defend them . hope this helps you to understand why some people feel this way”
by captain catt, seamen's mission
Saturday, September 04 2010, 11:57AM
“My God do some sick commentators on here need help? I suspect Hayley past offences would seem like tantrums at the kindergarten compared to what some of them might get up to if let out unsupervised. I do hope their parents and carers are keeping anything sharp well away from them!”
by katie, perth Australia
Saturday, September 04 2010, 9:55AM
“perhaps the people who are writting nice things about this vile girl would think twice if they had been abused by her.. i know one of the victims and she put her through hell and back and even made her ill over it,.. give it 12 months her name will be back under the courts - again! there must be something more worth while to publish than about this awlful girl”
by justice, glos
Saturday, September 04 2010, 8:08AM
“some of you people make me sick. on todays echo there is a article about a man who used his partner for a punch bag. but he says he is sorry, oh well thats ok then offyou go dont do it again, and some of you people defend people llike this . you need to get yourselves checked out.”
by harry, glos.
Saturday, September 04 2010, 7:22AM
“2511mark why should i do unpaid work ive done nothing wrong ,you idiot. your the sort of prat that would be thefirst to complain if someone attacked a family member for no reason , back to your park bench and special brew you moron”
by 2511mark, chelt
Friday, September 03 2010, 10:17PM
“I too have been sickened by some of the spiteful comments that have been posted. I am sure that there is legislation for malicious behaviour on the internet. Perhaps Hillary/Harry would benefit from a few hours unpaid work. I think about 140 would suffice.
Well done Hayley for making postive changes to your life. I hope you continue to achieve your goals”
by Earthling, Chelt
Friday, September 03 2010, 9:36PM
“Oh come on, give the girl a chance. What kind of medieval witch-burners are you? People CAN change their behaviour and CAN be genuinely sorry for what they've done. You've never made any mistakes? The hatred expressed on these message boards is often sickening (as well as illiterate to the point of incomprehensibility): try to think before you attempt to articulate your ill-considered bile-spewing, and remember you're talking about fellow human beings.
Ignore the negative comments, Hayley: well done.”