About Mark
Mark Johnson was born in the West Midlands in 1970. He was a prolific offender and abuser of drugs and alcohol from childhood. In the 1990s he became emersed in the drugs and music of the rave scene, emerging addicted to heroin and crack.
He finally left crime, drink and drugs behind him in 2000. Since then he has set up his own tree surgery business focusing on employing ex-offenders and recovering addicts.
He was awarded The Prince’s Trust Young Achiever of the Year Award and the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in recognition of this work.
Mark is now employed as a consultant on the criminal justice system at national and international level, speaking out for reform to policy-makers all over the world. As special adviser to both the National Probation Service and The Prince’s Trust, he is spearheading a number of projects which aim to bring young offenders and addicts back into society and give them a voice. He regards his extraordinary life experience as his qualification.
Mark wrote an account of his descent into addiction and crime, and his struggle to save himself, in the bestselling book Wasted, also available as a Hachette Audiobook.