Out of the Box - The Story of Leroy Smith

Product Information

They now work together to influence younger generations of Londoners at risk of being involved in the violence which had such a devastating impact on both of their lives. Then you had a lot of other prisoners, mostly white guys or guys who had power up until this point and who could see how they could lose it because of this new influx of prisoners, so they would take every opportunity to cast Muslims in a bad light. From the mere fact that a Muslim prisoner did not need drugs or drink to function inside the prison system and only needed food and exercise in the gym, it was clear from the start that brothers could adapt to anything. Slowly but surely inmates started to convert, some for inner peace, others for their own ends, or to seek personal power. That category of person is only fooling themselves. Brothers used to always come up to me and try to convert me but, because I believe in my heart that God is not a joke, I did not jump on the bandwagon for the sake of it. Amid violent crime reports in and around Birmingham, prisoner-turned-publisher Leroy believes those living in the Second City are "better off" here than in London. Read More Related Articles

Leroy is Founder of the initiative, Out of the Box Community Effort, which targets young people in inner-city communities. His charity is dedicated to encouraging youngsters to avoid a life of gang inclusion, crime and violence and instead, look towards enrolling in education to ultimately achieve a safe and prosperous career path. When Mr Smith was released from prison after 20 years, he wrote a book, Out of the Box, about his experiences. As he explains in his book, he didn’t scare people by his physical presence; rather, his power was psychological – he had a gun and he had the heart to use it. Gradually he became a monster and was quite happy to sell drugs and shoot people, including two police officers. Smith himself did not convert immediately he was asked to because he says he’s not the type to “jump on a bandwagon when it comes to God.” Instead he took his time and eventually, in 2007, came to the conclusion that Islam was for him. They're doing their own thing and have no direction other than to fight each other and people are dying out of it.It is a wonder Smith is alive at all. His mother was murdered when he was two and by the age of 12 he was bunking off school, driving stolen cars, thieving and smoking weed. FORMER pop star Leroy Smith - a member of 1970s chart-toppers Sweet Sensation - has died, aged 56, alone in his flat. For the man on the other side of the gun, PC James Seymour, the overriding memory is the feeling of helplessness. Maybe I’m projecting. Maybe my over-cluttered shelves and, in turn, my bank account aren’t prepared to make space for yet another set of collectible items that will probably live in their box due to my fear of causing any damage. Maybe that’s why I feel as though the Tekken 8 premium collector’s edition’s price tag is overkill given its content. Frankly, I’m disappointed in what it has to offer when my money could be spent elsewhere.

But, when you live that life, all that stuff, no matter what it looks like, in the end, it will all get destroyed and vanish from you,” he added. It’s a simple thing [but it’s revealing], years later, now I’m an author, actor and mentor, I've seen shady people get real wobbly when people ask them what they do.”A former Metropolitan Police officer has teamed up with the man who shot him in 1993 to help youngsters avoid a life of crime. I went to a pub in Brixton and on the way out the police were there. I said I have nothing to hide, but I did have things. It went crazy – it was a split-second thing. It wasn’t like I planned it – it just happened. That, he said, was outweighed by the positive responses he also gets from colleagues and the public. Mr Seymour who retired from policing in 2014, said the harsh upbringing and the racial inequalities Mr Smith faced, made forgiveness the only option. He believes the only reason he survived his time in prison was because of the “mutual respect” that was shown between the prisoners.

From the mere fact that a Muslim prisoner did not need drugs or drink to function inside the prison system and only needed food and exercise in the gym, it was clear from the start that brothers could adapt to anything. Slowly but surely inmates started to convert, some for inner peace, others for their own ends, or to seek personal power.” I found out about his life, his mum getting murdered, where he was brought up [and] the temptation of dealing drugs,” he continued. On his desire to see Leroy in person, James explained: “For many years there was a lot of bitterness there. Not hatred, but bitterness. The pair have produced an updated version of Leroy’s book Out Of The Box together and take their story of redemption to at-risk kids.

Feedback Form

He remembered one way his former partner illustrated how a simple social interaction often revealed someone was on the wrong path. Out of the Box will also take you outside of these Boxes and provide you with some eye-opening analysis and insights into the activities of those who rule over us – politicians present and past, such as David Cameron, Michael Howard and London mayor Sadiq Khan. Leroy’s story and previous interviews recounting his incredible early life experiences have been featured in numerous published articles.

Both men were apprehensive before meeting each other after the crime (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon) But his attitude has changed. “If it was a situation where something was happening, I would put myself, my life in harm’s way, without hesitation, because of everything what’s happened,” he said. Even if you go down the route of education you’re never going to make the same amount of money and will always be faced with harder circumstances than white people and that is a fact.” Out of the Box is an excellent read, a brutally honest account of the making of a criminal, which pulls no punches, or makes excuses, just says it as it was. This is a fascinating and valid account of the cost to society when young, damaged lives are not repaired. It deserves to be very widely read. Now out of the box and free, Leroy Smith is setting out on a new and straighter path. I wish him every success. He has more than paid his dues.'I never hated [Leroy], I certainly didn't like him. But I didn't hate him because it wasn't personal. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Eventually Smith made it to the big-time when he got hold of a gun. The weapon was his route to power because it made everyone scared of him. Don’t forget this was a time in London (the 1990s) when guns were not as common as they are today. I can stand in front of kids and tell them I learned the hard way. I have been through all these different situations, all these different scenarios, and it has taken its toll.