AN ex-convict from Lacock, who was sentenced to four years and four months for robbing a vulnerable man in Trowbridge, has hit out at probation services for not giving him the right help he needs to get back on track.

Joshua Simpkins, currently living in the Halve House Hostel, Trowbridge, believes Chippenham Probation service is not giving him the right level of support and that he is missing out on job opportunities as a result.

“I got into trouble in 2014 for an armed robbery offence but since I have been out of prison in April, they have not helped me at all,” the 24-year-old said. “They keep promising me help but they have done nothing.

“I have quite a few conditions on me because I’m on license until 2020, and one of them is that I am a risk to the public, but when I was homeless they allowed me to stay on the street for two months.

“I did wrong and I have dealt with the consequences for that. Their role is to prevent me from reoffending, but I’m not getting the help that I need.

“I am looking for jobs every single day because I want to get my life back on track and better myself, and it’s difficult because of what I did.

“I was told I could have this job at National Rail and I needed to go on a course in Cardiff for five days, but the probation service are not helping me and, in my eyes, they have failed me.”

Mr Simpkins, who was imprisoned in Portland, Dorset, alongside accomplices Damien Gordon and Steven Richards, who attacked Christopher Marsh in his own home, has weekly meetings with his probation officer but says he is asked the same generic questions repeatedly.

“It’s always the same questions, like ‘how are you?’ and ‘what have you been up to?’, and they’re meant to stop me from reoffending but we’re not getting anywhere,” he added.

A spokesman from the Ministry of Justice said: “We are committed to getting offenders into work, which we know can play a key role in reducing their reoffending.

“The National Probation Service works closely with offenders on release to help them access training, education, mental health support, debt welfare, and support in seeking employment and accommodation.”