In a heartbreaking tale of downfall and despair, an ex-restaurant owner, whose life was once filled with success and promise, now roams the streets of Leeds in search of his next heroin fix. Meet Jamie, a dad-of-four haunted by his demons and the devastating consequences of his addictions.
Jamie, whose life was upended by drink and jail, has warned “it could happen to anyone”. If someone had told him this unending nightmare is what would have become of his life while he was running his thriving business ten years ago, he'd have told them "no chance".
The 36-year-old, who didn't wish to provide his last name, is a mere shadow of his former self. His once vibrant face now bears the scars of countless cuts and lesions, the agonizing itch of withdrawal causing him to scratch uncontrollably.
Read more: Much-loved Leeds barber found dead days after being released from prison
Clad in a worn-out Nike tracksuit, Jamie carries his meagre belongings slung over a shoulder—a tattered quilt and a sleeping bag, his only companions in the harsh world of the city-centre.
This tragic figure, the biolgical father to two, nine and 13, and step-dad to another pair, 18 and 21, spends sleepless nights consumed by regret. He wonders what could have been if he hadn't succumbed to the mounting pressures that come with running a restaurant and providing for his family in his mid-20s. The weight of it all led him down a treacherous path, turning to the booze to drown his sorrows.
Jamie, who is originally from Knottingley, said: “Basically, my life went wrong. I was under too much pressure, to be honest. I was only young. Then I ended up in jail and ended up homeless.
“I went to jail because I ended up fighting drunk. That’s in my past now. I wouldn’t ever be that person again, that was due to drink.
“I was drinking every day, about 12 cans a day. It was the pressure and taking on all that - the kids, the restaurant. It was hard work.”
Once the proud owner of The Bistro, an establishment serving up classic British meals in the scenic coastal town of Ilfracombe, North Devon, Jamie’s life had crumbled beneath him. When he left prison after serving a 12-week sentence, he faced the harsh reality of his wife leaving him and returning to Yorkshire, which left him utterly alone. To make matter’s worse, Jamie said most of his family members tragically died when he was in his teens.
For the past decade, he’s been in and out of shared housing and admits he “never managed to get his life back on track”. He decided to sleep rough in Leeds as he has family roots in the city and it’s busy, so can rely on the good nature of more people to hand him their spare change.
'I enjoy drugs'
It was not just alcohol which plunged Jamie into a living nightmare. He also turned to Class A drugs. Jamie claims he began taking heroin because he “enjoys drugs” and to gain a different perspective on life. He said: “I’m a heroin addict. I started taking drugs because I enjoy drugs. Not to forget anything. I’ve always lived my life to the full. I’ve taken drugs to see stuff differently, not to forget.
“But you’re ill if you haven’t got it.”
Yet despite his brazen attitude towards his drug addiction, he opened up about how “demeaning” his life has become.
Jamie said: “I feel s***. I shouldn't have to do it. I’ve only just started sort of begging for money now. Some people are nice and some people aren’t very nice. They don’t understand what you’re going through.
“They’ll just blank you. Ignorance. Complete ignorance. I’ve heard about people getting kicked in the head, all sorts of things. Getting weed on, chucked rubbish at, called names, all sorts. I’m not bothered about it as I can look after myself but there are people out there who are vulnerable.
“People should take more time out to realise that it could happen to them. They should stop being as selfish. I can ask people to buy me something to eat and get told no, it’s really demeaning if you get told no.”
If you are concerned for someone on the street, you can report it here. Leeds homeless charities which can be contacted include St. George's Crypt, St. Anne's Resource Centre, York Street Health Practice and Forward Leeds.
Read next:
- 'I stay up at night worrying... you don't know what's going to happen': Life in scary Leeds suburb
- Leeds homeless man 'urinated on by laughing students' who called him a 'tramp'
- Leeds man 'begging for crack cocaine outside Aldi every day' after tragedy tore life apart
- Homeless Leeds man living with 'terrifying' rare condition that has left him with no belly button
- Sneered at with nowhere to go... how these mums, dads, sons and daughters ended up sleeping on Leeds' streets
