Bucks Free Press:
Graham Peter (Ox) Oxley Catch:
National Telex Service 1st June 1983
Service Reformed crook David Clarke is hot on the trail of his mates in crime. He’s turned detective to trace thieves, drug pushers, burglars, bandits and drunks in a massive one man round-up aimed at changing their lives.
And it could result in the most bizarre meeting of shady characters a town has ever known.
David, 33 wants to pack them all into a tiny church at Bierton, bucks, and tell them how God saved him from spending a life behind bars.
And if the Local C.I.D. Force at nearby Aylesbury, bucks wants to turn up and join in the hymn singing too they are welcome. David a married man with two children from Aylesbury Road, Bierton, is a preacher in the Baptist church.
He said, “God helped me and can help all my old buddies too”.
David an Electronics lecturer at a Polytechnic explained:
“ I ‘ve already persuaded some old villainous pals to come along. I want to pack the church with criminals, but it’s going to be a tough job”.
The former thief and drug user left Borstal aged 18 and decided to lead a life of luxury based on crime.
“I was in a car ringing business, thieving vehicles and knocking them out again,” he confessed.
“ I’ve broken into an old peoples home to steal a colour telly, taken garage equipment, nicked from tills, walked of with speed boat engines, and taken drugs. I’ve even sold drugs and got involved in permissive sex.
“There were times when I used to keep an axe and a mallet in my car just in case. Now it has all changed.
His life took a drastic change when he “met Jesus Christ” during a bad LSD trip and joined the Baptist Church.
And when detectives questioned him about an offence he did not commit he confessed to 24 he did carry out.
He Added “ I’ve had a clean sheet for 13 years. I’m not going to preach the bible at the bad boys --- Just show them how God helped me and let them make up their minds”.
Ends.
Memo to news desk: Service on June 5th. We believe this man is absolutely genuine in his actions.
Memo End.