By David Akinsanya

Reporter David Akinsanya grew up in care and was sentenced to a spell in custody as a teenager. Did it work? Here, he tells his story. The last time I'd seen most of my gang was when we were sent down at Chelmsford Crown court back in 1981.

So when BBC 3 asked me to make Jailed by the State, the thought of going back and getting in touch with the people I had offended with as a youth was exciting and intriguing.

Over the years, I'd lost contact with John, Paul, Dean and Dave. But thanks to the internet and electoral register, I managed to track them all down again.

David turned his life around, but others struggle to do so

I grew up in Basildon, Essex, and by the time I was 15, I had a reputation for being a bit of a bad boy. It was interesting to meet the others just so I could confirm how bad we were.

I joined the group because I'd started at a secondary school in the third year, having been at a boarding school for mal-adjusted children for three years.

There were only about five other black kids in my school and I found myself in the middle of a skinhead revival. I stuck out like a sore thumb and realised that without protection, I'd end up a victim.

Grassed up

John was the hardest kid in my year and a judo expert. Paul was 6 ft 4 in with size 14 feet. Dean had a stutter and, like me, he sought the protection of the group. Finally there was Dave - a year or two older than us, he already had a reputation for being "hard".

We recalled the little skanks we'd pull and how most of us spent our time stoned on weed David Akinsanya

This is how I remembered them. When we were arrested the local paper reported that I'd "grassed" the gang up and told the police everything. It wasn't true but I still took a beating from them. By the time we got to court none of them were talking to me and we were sent to youth custody for nine months.

I had actually met up with John before, for a film called Raised by the State so I knew he was doing well with his life - really well. It was always clear he was going to make something of his life - he had hated the poverty he faced as a child and wanted better for his kids.

I'd not seen Dean and Paul since our day in court and Dave was still mates with my best friend from school who I kept in touch with, so I knew life had not gone so smoothly for him.

Error of their ways

I was thrilled to hear both Dean and Paul had learned from the experience and had never been in trouble since. They both lived "normal" lives with partners and kids, doing the things families do.

Exercise is part of the "regime"

Dave had been involved in a fight and the person he hit (in self defence) died. This had really made Dave stop and think about his life. Unlike the rest of us, he had not settled into a career but he also had faced no charges since our case back in 1981.

Gaynes Hall Youth Custody Centre was where I ended up and I also traced some of the people who had been there with me after the court case.

It was weird going back, some things were the same, like the farm buildings, but much had changed. Another prison had been built on the site. Lez, Bob, Gooch, Steve and I met in a pub and remembered little things like the shampoo and soap we were given and our tobacco rations.

For better or worse

We recalled the little skanks we'd pull and how most of us spent our time stoned on weed listening to the all new Sony Walkman. It was like bad boys re-united.

David was drooped by his friends

We had all grown up and realised it was a probably a phase, and that most of us who ended up there were the unlucky ones who got caught (we all knew others who were worse but never got caught). Only Bob had gone on to commit other offences.

So does custody work? For me I'd say yes. It took me away from the streets, gave me an opportunity to get some qualifications and made me understand that I didn't want to go inside ever again.

I'd grown up in care and been exposed to a lot of corruption. I committed my first crime aged 11 - breaking into the old telephone boxes and shoplifting - and I didn't stop until I got caught at 17.

But for many, custody is a disaster. It can begin a cycle that's hard to break. Once you have done "bird" it is easy to do it again. I believe, like my old mate Bradley, the fear of custody is more powerful.

Jailed by the State is on BBC Three on Monday 17 February at 2000.