Former Crimestopppers Community Champion Chris Preddie receives an OBE

Chris Preddie has been appointed an OBE for his outstanding contribution to youth work [3 January 2012]

24 year old Chris Preddie was appointed the OBE for his youth work, having abandoned drug-dealing and turned his life around after his brother was shot dead.

Mr Preddie said he "made a choice" to take his life in a different direction to that of his cousins, who were jailed for eight years in 2006 for the killing of Damilola Taylor.

He said he "never knew" his cousins Danny and Ricky, who stabbed Damilola in Peckham, south London.

Chris joined Crimestoppers scheme aimed at cutting youth violence in south London after his brother Andrew "got shot four days after my 16th birthday", he said.

In 2008 he was made Crimestoppers first "community champion."

Chris has now stated his own company as a rap poet who tries to save teenagers from crime.

Dave Cording, Deputy Chief Executive for Crimestoppers, said: "We are so proud of Chris. He is living proof that it is possible to turn your life around for the better. He is an inspiration for young people."

Chris hopes to join Crimestoppers' London Committee in the coming year.

Read more on the BBC website

Please note: Crimestoppers is not responsible for and does not endorse the content on external websites. Links to external websites are for the sole purpose of providing users with relevant crime-related information that may be of interest.

Crimestoppers is an independent charity and not part of the police. If you wish to pass on information about crime anonymously, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or fill out our anonymous online Giving Information Form.

Related Links

Fearless (Crimestoppers youth website)

Chris Preddie Facebook like page