A FORMER convict is spearheading a bid to bring Christmas cheer to every prisoner in Armley jail.

Liam Knights and fellow students at Leeds University plan to send a Christmas card to every one of more than 1,000 inmates at the Leeds prison.

They hope the individual messages of goodwill might not only stave off loneliness for the men and encourage them to turn their lives around, but could help save lives.

Mr Knights, vice-president of the university’s Prison Reform Society, said a huge proportion of prison inmates attempted suicide and Christmas was a particularly vulnerable period.

The society is appealing for Christmas cards from people in the Bradford district which can be either blank – so they can be filled in by students – or already contain a personalised Christmas message.

Mr Knights, formerly of Cross Roads, Keighley, has already had a positive response to an initial mail-out, including a donation of more than 200 blank cards from Bradford company Hallmark.

The Christmas cards are the first major project for the Prison Reform Society since it was formed last month by about 20 criminology and law students.

Mr Knights, who is taking a criminology and criminal justice degree, signed up immediately.

The 24-year-old has had a strong interest in prison reform after spending time at a Young Offender Institution for stealing almost £25,000 from the Keighley bingo hall where he worked as a teenager.

On release he became homeless, but has now managed to turn his life due to support from members of a Bradford church.

Mr Knights said: “The society will spread awareness of the issues facing prisoners. The majority of the general public don’t know what goes on in prison and they are happy to let things go on.

“Prisons are not working and it’s no wonder the staff are going on strike. Unless people care, then nothing will change.

“I’m proof that if you give people a chance they can come good. The authorities didn’t rehabilitate me, they just let me out of prison and left me.

“Surely everyone would want people to be rehabilitated so they will pay less money to run the prisons?”

The Prison Reform Society is this month running stalls at the university where fellow students can write individual messages on the Christmas cards, or its members will write hundreds themselves.

People can send cards, either blank or signed, to Leeds University Prison Reform Society, 8 North Hill Road, Leeds, LS6 2EN.