The story of Karen's son Carl is a familiar one. Dropping out of school at 14, he began stealing bikes before graduating to domestic and commercial burglaries. Predictably, court appearances became a large part of his life, and the waiting room of the local police station and gallery of the magistrates' court became all too familiar for Karen.
Her support remained unstinting, but her frustration increased. She and her husband had always provided for Carl, as part of a solid family unit including two other children, 11 and 13. So why was Carl behaving like this?
"I used to think he was a sheep and was easily influenced by his peers," she says. "But I realise now he's the leader. He's addicted to the adrenalin rush. He simply cannot walk past a house where a laptop is visible and leave it alone."
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