A REFORMED drug dealer and robber is one of several young unemployed people making a film in a bid to further their careers.

Kashif Nijabit, 26, of the Bakers' Arms in Leyton, admits he used to lead a dark existence, carrying out armed robberies, kidnapping and selling Class A drugs.

After serving time in prison for grievous bodily harm, he decided to turn his back on a life of crime and undertook a course in digital media through the Prince's Trust.

He got a grant to make a short film and two years and several short films later one of the producers on a film project launched by Youthink Productions.

The project is being made in the borough by unemployed youths who have come together for a positive learning experience from script writing to filming and editing, gaining first-hand knowledge of working in the film industry.

The former McEntee School student recalls his criminal life: “I had an absent father and was rebelling against him and society. I felt stuck in a dead end environment and wanted to be an East End gangster like the Kray twins.

“But after spending time in prison and seeing friends go inside, I questioned whether it was the life for me. But I didn't know what to do.”

He said getting involved with the Princes' Trust turned his life around and now he is an ambassador for the trust, trying to help others by sharing his story.

He said: “Now I realise that if I had had that little bit of help to motivate me before I got involved in crime, things could have been very different. Now I just want to help other kids.”

Mr Nijabit has been in rehearsals this week in the Forest Community Centre in Leyton along with the other young unemployed people, before they shoot the scenes for the short film, “Don't Call Back” in January.

The film, which was written by the youths, is a psychological thriller about office workers who fall victim to a mysterious mind control illness.

It is being filmed on a tiny budget, with actors and industry professionals from Scious Media offering their time for free, and still needs donations to help fund it or the use of an office location for filming between January 4 to 9. If you can help, visit: www.dontcallbackthemovie.com for more information.