A BARBER mourning the loss of a friend wants to help turn young people away from knife crime.

Daniel Heggarty of Ruffneck Barbers in Gorse Hill was shocked when he learned Lee Turner had been stabbed to death on The Venny 10 days ago.

Having been angered by the amount of knife crime in the area for a long time, he is now taking action to stop other lives being lost.

Daniel is offering young people free training to follow in his footsteps as a barber – as long as they stop hanging around with gangs and carrying blades.

The 38-year-old said: “I’m sick of this madness and of seeing lovely young lads grow up into criminals stabbing each other.

“When I first set up this shop over 20 years ago, people used to come round selling meat but crime has gotten 10 times worse. I had one person run out mid-haircut because someone burst into the shop with a machete.

“They’re all running around with knives and that’s not on. I want this to be a place where people can come and relax.

“Gang life seems to be the only option for some young people but I want to show them another way.

"I once had a choice of the bad road or the barbershop and now I own my own business and have done quite well for myself.

“I want to give people that same opportunity, to give them a career, a way off the streets. Barbering courses cost thousands of pounds but, whether it’s one young person or 20, I will train them up from day one until they are qualified, for free, as long as they are willing to learn and behave themselves.

“This may just be a drop in the ocean but if it saves a life and stops one person’s family and friends going through the same pain, grief and absolute despair we are, it’s worth it, I will do whatever it takes.”

A 17-year-old appeared in court yesterday charged with Lee's murder.

Daniel said of the 33-year-old from Park North: “He was a good friend of mine, so I was a gutted when I heard what happened.

“I’d spoken to him a couple of weeks ago and told him I wanted him to change his life because it was not working out for him – then the next thing I know, he was dead.

“It’s really hurt me and my family, which is why I’m doing this free training. You should set the foundations for respecting people and looking after your own, but there’s none of that now.

“The police are doing what they can but I can’t see an end to it, more needs to be done.”

Anyone interested in taking up Daniel’s offer of free barber training should visit the Cricklade Road barbershop or call 07862 877537.