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26
Sept 2021
Harrogate man: 'My whole life has been consumed by drugs'
Two weeks ago, Chris Hollowed left jail after serving six months for dealing heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Harrogate.
Since then, he has left his family in Harrogate to start a new life in Rotherham, away from old friends and haunts and, hopefully, old habits.
Drugs have scarred his life and after he was sentenced in March his daughter Mel Bowman got in touch to say her dad had never denied his guilt but she felt he had been let down by a lack of support.
She also wanted to convey that her dad was more than a 'junkie': he's worked as a builder, decorator, plasterer and mechanic and has been a great support to many others.
Mr Hollowed agreed to talk frankly to the Stray Ferret about his experiences to give people an insight into how life can spiral out of control.
Harrogate council estate
He traces his problems back to growing up on the St Andrew's council estate in Harrogate. His parents divorced at the age of six. He says:
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Drugs have continued to scar Mr Hollowed, who has had several relationships and been homeless. He says it was a "natural progression" from cannabis to harder drugs.
Clean from heroin
Mr Hollowed was jailed for a third time in March when he admitted two counts of supplying class A drugs last year. The court heard he had 105 offences on his record. His lawyer said he had an “entrenched” drug addiction dating back over 20 years, which had taken a heavy toll on his health. He was jailed in March and released on September 13.
He says he's been clean from heroin for six months but was prescribed methadone in prison.
He's living in a hostel in Rotherham with two other men. He says:
He makes no great promises about the future.
He hopes to help others and that his story will help others view him and others with drug addictions in a more nuanced way.
Lack of support and compassion
His daughter, Mel Bowman, also wants people to know her dad's situation is more complex than many people think and urges them to show compassion.
Ms Bowman adds her dad got little response from employers when he was honest enough to admit he was a recovering addict.
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