Poet grateful mum turned him over to police at 16

Wales' former children's laureate says he is thankful his mother called the police on him when he was 16 years old and physically attacked her.

Connor Allen is a poet, writer, and actor and was the Children's Laureate for Wales from 2021 to 2023, but faced challenges during his teenage years.

He admitted to assaulting someone, inflicting serious injury and causing harm in court, but later received mercy from his loved ones, who helped him avoid more severe punishment.

Since then, Connor has reversed his direction and is attempting to motivate and influence younger generations.

Connor, who grew up in a housing area in Newport, stated that the frustration had been building up during his teenage years.

He had a father who was not involved in his life, and as a teenager of mixed ethnicity, he frequently had difficulty finding his place within his community.

I grew up without my black father and also without that 'black visibility,' because my mum is white.

He began attracting unwanted attention from the law, and things escalated when he lost his temper with his mother.

We were arguing and shouting. My anger boiled over onto my mum. Undoubtedly, there's instant regret, but the action has already been taken.

Connor is truly grateful for her decision from that point on.

I didn't know what was going to happen to me when they took me away by the authorities.

She often reflects on the bravery it took to say 'my son is out of control,' and me taking responsibility for what was happening.

At the age of 32, the memory of being seated in the courtroom in front of his mother remains vivid.

Despite everything that had caused her so much pain, she still desperately pleaded to the judge.

The teachers at Lliswerry Comprehensive School had also recognized his potential.

Connor expressed gratitude that they allowed him to have a second opportunity.

He stated, "My mother, the teachers, wrote a letter to the judge, requesting a suspended sentence. Upon looking back on that time, I ponder what would have been my situation if not for individuals who believed in me."

Connor described it as "empowerment" to have that backing despite acknowledging that what he did that night was "horrific".

At a time when everything had built up and it finally came down on you, and despite being at your lowest point, people still believe in you... that was, in my opinion, really motivating.

His love for writing originated from reading books that his mother would buy him during his childhood.

He particularly enjoyed the Harry Potter series, which gave him the opportunity to visit different worlds beyond his own.

He also drew inspiration from the stories conveyed in grime and hip-hop music.

This experience prompted him to write The Making of a Monster, a fusion of grime and theatre about growing up, finding one's place in the world and the risks of a life spiralling out of control.

He is presently working on a sequel titled Forgiveness of a Monster, focusing on the pursuit of self-forgiveness and reconciliation with his absent father.

"He believes in giving people a second chance, as long as it empowers and motivates them, because then they might be capable of even greater things," he said.

You can hear Connor's interview with Lucy Owen on the Djogdja NewsRadio Wales show "Books that Made Me" at 18:30 GMT on Friday, and then again on Sounds

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