A 41-YEARS-OLD homeless, unemployed man who has lost everything because of his costly cocaine habit, came to see me recently.

The ex-police officer's son asked me to warn youngsters against being drawn into the world of drugs and addiction.

He claimed he had been clean for a year but because of his situation was now unable to find a roof over his head or employment. He wondered if I could help. Obviously I can with publicity, not with a job or housing problem.

I was just saddened to see the state of an obviously articulate man, one who had been kicked out by his girlfriend, claimed he was unwanted by relatives and who had been living rough on the country park. An old banger of a car is his home and he admitted shop lifting the clean t-shirt he was wearing. He had just 65p in his pocket after spending over £40,000 on cocaine.

I hope he can find a solution somewhere along the line, and that young people will take heed of the sincere warning.

What a state to end up in when, acccording to the old adage, life should just be beginning!