How a convicted criminal and former heroin addict turned his life around after watching the mother of his child die from an overdose – as his brother secretly snaps him helping a stranger pack her groceries
- Jessie-James Radecker was convicted of armed robbery while high on drugs
- He spent 10 months in jail before he was released on parole and entered a rehab
- His partner and the mother of his child died from a drug overdose in that time
- He is now trying to help others in his community and raise drug awareness
A convicted criminal and former drug addict who watched his girlfriend and mother of his child die from a drug overdose has turned his life around – spending his days performing random acts of kindness for strangers.
Jessie-James Radecker, from Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, was convicted of armed robbery after he stormed a service station with a knife and a syringe to steal money for drugs.
He spent ten months in jail before being released on parole and entered a rehab facility to curb his heroin addiction.
He told Daily Mail Australia that by then he was ‘determined to stay clean and help those in need’.
On Wednesday, Daniel shared a photo of his brother, who recently graduated from his rehabilitation program, helping an elderly woman pack her groceries into her trolley
‘While he was in rehab the mother of his daughter ended up overdosing from the very poison he was addicted to for ten years,’ his brother Daniel said.
On Wednesday, Daniel shared a photo of his brother, who recently graduated from his rehabilitation program, helping an elderly woman pack her groceries.
He shared the photo with his local community – many of whom know of Jessie-James’ history with drug abuse and crime – in order to show ‘how people can change’.
‘When he committed the crime, a lot of people had things to say that weren’t very nice, and I thought I should show people that even though somebody had messed up, they can turn their lives around,’ he said.
He spent 10 months in jail before he was released on parole and entered a rehab facility to curb his heroin addiction
A convicted criminal and former drug addict who watched his partner and the mother of his child die from a drug overdose has turned his life around, and now spends his days trying to perform random acts of kindness for strangers
‘We also think we should give more time to our elders and help out when we can.
Daniel Radecker and his brother only rekindled their relationship when Jessie-James was sent to prison for the robbery offence.
He said he previously had to cut his brother off after he ‘stole $400 out of my bank in one night for drugs.’
Jessie-James had been addicted to opioids since he was 16, and he and his partner – also a drug user – gave birth to a daughter who was born addicted to drugs.
Jessie-James said when his daughter was removed from his care, he always wanted to get clean, ‘but struggled to commit’
She was eventually removed from the home and placed in the care of his aunt and uncle, who have raised her in a stable home ever since.
Jessie-James said when his daughter was removed from his care, he always wanted to get clean, ‘but struggled to commit’.
‘We had our dad move up to try to support him and get him into rehab, but in the end we realised he just wasn’t quite ready,’ Daniel said.
Jessie-James hopes to continue helping out his local community and raise awareness about opioid addiction.