A former gang member has said educating young people on the cost of knife crime is the only way to stop it.

Francis Osei-Appiah was groomed by a London gang when he was younger and ended up a convicted criminal.

"I was sent to prison with a gang for very serious offences of kidnapping and blackmail drug offences," he said.

"It was my first time in prison and was my first conviction. And that really opened my eyes."

Francis turned his life around while inside and enrolled on an Open University degree in health and social care.

When he finished his sentence, he wanted to do his bit to make sure young people do not make the same mistakes he did.

"I can't change everyone. But if I go into a secondary school, and I change even one, stop one person doing crime, then I've done my job."

Listen to Francis Osei-Appiah on the KM Community Podcast

Francis set up the charity Reform Restore Respect to offer early intervention and educational talks to school children.

During his school visits, he tries to be as honest as possible to the children by talking about the impact of a criminal record and the harsh reality of prison life.

"I've got all the prison gear with me from the boot of my car," he said.

"Real prison bed, real prison clothes, prison cutlery. I make it as real as possible."

Francis begins his talks by showing footage from his own criminal case, which he said shocks the children.

He said: "You could hear a pin drop. And at that point when I hear that silence I think 'yes, it's the time.'

"I've got their ears, I've snatched their hearts. It's time for me to educate them now."

It was reported earlier this year that knife crime in Kent has increased at the fastest rate in the country.

Francis also criticised the Home Secretary for the recent #knifefree campaign, in which stories of people living 'knife free' are printed on fast food chicken boxes.

"Is Priti Patel telling us that most kids that carry knives all go and eat in those type of shops?" he said.

"Is that what she's saying to us? It's very bizarre."

Although the project has visited schools all over Kent, Francis said schools from Tunbridge Wells have not been as engaged with educating their pupils on gang violence.

"I'm pledging to teachers in those areas," he said. "They all need to be on board."

The Police and Crime Commissioner recently awarded additional funding to Reform Restore Respect so Francis can continue to visit schools.

Last month, KentOnline revealed the tragic story of a Canterbury school girl who got caught up in county lines gangs at the age of 11.

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