After 39 prison sentences, man shuns gang to turn life around

Man Up rehabilitation facilitator Edward Ratu and Mark Bartlett at work. Photo/Supplied

After serving 39 prison sentences over 10 years a Whanganui man has spoken about turning his life around.

Born into a criminal gang meant violence, drugs and alcohol were Mark Bartlett's idea of normal.

And at the age of 17 anger and substance abuse turned into crime and imprisonment.

Now 28, Mr Bartlett says he is 10 months sober, employed fulltime and is committed to bettering his life for the sake of his children.

So, what was his turning point?

One year ago Mr Bartlett left Whanganui to disconnect himself from his gang life.

"It was tough breaking away from but I knew moving away was my only way out. It was the first step."

But it wasn't the only step.

Mr Bartlett was sentenced to 10 months' home detention for two male assaults female charges on Tuesday when he appeared in the Whanganui District Court.

The assaults occurred on October 19 last year.

Mr Bartlett said that incident was a major wake-up call.

"For my kids, I made the decision to better myself. I saw what I had become and I didn't want them to be brought up the way I was."

Voluntarily, Mr Bartlett started a 12-week course with a rehabilitation programme called Man Up.

"It's all about getting men to express themselves and share their experiences with people who have been through similar troubles," Mr Bartlett said.

Man Up facilitator Wetewha Stirling said when Mr Bartlett started the course you could see he was still in the hangover stage from his previous lifestyle.

"From that Mark that I saw, who was very stand-offish and didn't talk, to the Mark I know now who is open and communicates with others and also just posting on Facebook about what Man Up has done for him personally, it's a huge change," Mr Stirling said.

Judge Philip Crayton, who sentenced Mr Bartlett on Tuesday, said the reasons he ordered home detention over imprisonment was because he had shown significant steps to turn his life around.

"Imprisonment would take him out of the circulation, cost him his employment and it would not prevent him from contacting the complainant and the same issues would arise," Judge Crayton said.

He said being sent to prison time and time again only aggravated him more.

"I was so frustrated with my life, but having a fulltime job and attending this course ... I was able to talk with people who are able to relate and understand what I was going through," Mr Bartlett said.

Mr Bartlett's employer was present in court to support him. The Chronicle approached the employer but he declined to make a comment.

Another Man Up facilitator and former participant, Edward Ratu, said Mr Bartlett had now stopped taking drugs, did not drink and was genuinely happy and outgoing.

"He really does want to turn his life around," said Mr Ratu.

Man Up is a nationwide rehabilitation programme established in 2015 by Destiny Church in Auckland. There are now 80 Man Up groups in New Zealand, including one in Whanganui.

To find out more information about the Man Up course click here or ring Wetewha Stirling from Whanganui Man-Up on 0221671517.