"I would have used it, but I would have regretted it" - teen caught with knife shares story
EXCLUSIVE: Luis, 17, has been arrested for carrying a knife, and now uses his story to educate others.
Last updated 19th Apr 2024
We're exploring why, on average, a person is fatally stabbed nearly every two weeks in the West Midlands.
The shocking statistic comes as the region has been rocked by a recent spate of knife attacks - three of which have led to the deaths of teenage boys.
This week, we've been hearing from bereaved families who have shared their devastating stories, as well as their efforts to stop more young lives being lost.
Today (19 April), we're hearing exclusively from Luis, a 17-year-old from Wolverhampton, who has carried a knife.
"I would have used it"
"About Year 9 at school, I started going down the wrong path. That's when I started to carry a knife," said Luis.
"I was getting into trouble with people, started getting threats that I was going to be stabbed.
"Then I got arrested for having a blade on me. That day, everything just switched round for me. I regretted it. I got arrested, then brought back home.
"I was lucky that the case was closed, and I was back under the youth offending team from there. I had to do a number of hours of community service."
Asked if he would have used the knife he was carrying, if he'd been threatened, Luis said: "Honest answer, I would have used it, but I would have regretted it later though.
"Because it wouldn't have just ended there. I would have stabbed him, and then his people would come after me."
"I have put myself in danger"
Luis continued: "Why was I doing it? I just wanted to fit in with the crowd. It just wanted to be like everyone else, and to get respect."
Reflecting on whether he had ever considered carrying a knife would put his own life at risk, Luis added: "At certain times, I was thinking - yeah - I have put myself in danger, but I can't get out of it.
"I thought I couldn't get out of that lifestyle, but I kept on trying and trying, and eventually it helped me."
After being caught in possession of a blade, Luis was introduced to Daryl Chambers from InPower Academy in Wolverhampton.
The organisation provides martial arts training and programmes to help empower young people, as well as running intervention schemes in schools and youth centres.
"I've come away from that lifestyle"
"Boxing has really helped me massively. If it wasn't for boxing and gym, then who knows what would have happened by now," said Luis.
"I've come away from that lifestyle. Working with Daryl and Neeco, and their programmes.
"I started working with Daryl when I was in about Year 9, but he didn't know my situation then. He said I could do this knife crime project.
"So I've been into some schools to talk about it, and the youths asked loads of questions. I enjoyed doing it.
Luis is now working on a new project with InPower Academy called the STOP programme, which provides mentoring to young people.
"It involves going into schools, helping the younger generation understand that having a knife or a machete isn't the correct path to go down. And trying to keep them out of that lifestyle."
You can find out more about InPower Academy, and their work here.