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Would-be Shrewsbury nurse on The One Show
Thursday 20th January 2011, 10:08AM GMT.
A Shropshire teenager who almost missed out on her dream of becoming a nurse because of a police warning she received when she was 13 has had her plight featured on prime-time TV.
Martha Draycott, 17, of Shrewsbury, appeared on BBC1′s the One Show last night, explaining how she faced being thrown off her health and social care diploma at Shrewsbury College.
But after contacting the crime reduction charity Nacro, she was allowed to stay on the course.
At 13, Martha was given a reprimand for theft of cosmetics. At the age of 14 she was given a police warning following a disagreement at a youth club, which she apologised for.
Martha started the course in September to become a paediatric nurse. But the college then told her she could not continue on the course because a CRB check revealed her past misdemeanours.
She said: “I had chosen paediatric nursing as I would love to work with children, as I feel I am a very caring person and could offer a great deal to this profession.
“When I was told I couldn’t continue the course I was so upset.”
Dominic Headley, resettlement information officer for Nacro, said: “We have established a great rapport with the college who are in the process of changing their procedures round and we want other colleges to follow suit.”
A police spokesman said: “Having a criminal record can seriously affect future career prospects and the force works with youngsters across Shropshire and other counties to engage with them through youth diversion initiatives.”
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She is far from being a hardened criminal, look at member’s of parliament who claim thousands of pound’s for items that have no bearing on their job’s these are the criminals of British society, not a young girl who made a bad judgement years ago. So she had a disagreement at a youth club, have’nt we all had disagreements, does this mean she is not suitable to be a nurse, I for one dont think so. Everyone of us has a past, and none of us can say we never made a mistake.
Martha I wish you every success for the future, and years of enjoying your nursing career.
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She has a criminal record therefore she should not be allowed to work with children in the future. It is a disgrace.
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she was 14 woman. All the MPs in the LABOUR PARTY, should have had criminal records, for robbing the ratepayer, of thousands of pounds and they were not children. just goes to show, what is criminal, and what is ok. At least someone had some common sense, and let her carry on with her course.
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What an ignorant comment Jennie.
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I agree with Jennie, having been the Victim of crime. There is a law in our country and if you choose not to live by it then that is their path they have chose. What crime is ok to forget and what crime is not? If you have ever been affected by crime then you dont want to see the person who commited the crime looking after you in hospital or serving you in Tesco.
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She committed the offences as a minor, I take it Jennie and ShropshireLass are perfect and never broke the law themselves?
I take it your both now suggesting anybody with a criminal record should not be allowed to work ever again? what a brilliant idea!
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On the contrary, of course those people with criminal records should work but not with children or vulnerable adults in my opinion. I would be disgusted if the nursery I take my children to decided to employ people with a criminal record, the law is there for a reason and should not be disregarded so lightly.
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I agree with that, but not what SL seems to be suggesting.
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Jamie what was I suggesting? I have two children and my daughter was assaulted by a juvenile. I Know that my daughter wouldnt be happy seeing him working in our local supermarket, sorry he did it before his 18th birthday silly me, will pass on the message that she shouldnt be scared anymore because he is 18 now and he did it when he was a child.
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