A gun-toting US bounty hunter believes he would currently be locked up in HMP Perth if he had stayed in Angus.
As a youth, Christian Matlock, 26, was frequently in trouble in the county before moving to America in a bid to turn his life around and now the Virginia Beach bail bondsman is returning to Scotland to set problem youths back on the right track.
The 6ft 2in Scot chases some of America’s most-wanted bad guys as soon as they skip bail for a handsome reward.
Christian took his inspiration from TV show Dog The Bounty Hunter, which follows real-life bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman and his family chasing down actual fugitives in the Hawaiian Islands.
When living in Angus in 2006, Mr Matlock was fined £175 and ordered to pay £200 compensation at Forfar Sheriff Court for assaulting a man who allegedly threatened to squirt his then girlfriend with a water pistol.
After realising he was throwing his life away by drinking, fighting and causing trouble for the police, he decided to move to the US in 2010 to turn his life around.
He tracked down his birth father, Ricky Matlock a retired American marine, and then took his name because it “suits as a bounty hunter”.
He joined the National Bail Enforcers And Security Alliance of America and became the first UK citizen to get recruited as a bounty hunter in the US.
“I’m glad I was able to get out of Brechin and turn my life around before I got into serious trouble,” said Christian, from his beachside home.
“Going to America completely changed my life. If I had stayed in Brechin I’d more than likely be a resident of Perth Prison by now. Two of my friends were in a car accident in Angus after drinking for two days straight … I would have been in the car with them.
Mr Matlock will speak later this month about his experiences during a four-day return trip to Angus.
He is keen to speak to problem youths and let them know that they can break the cycle and make a better life for themselves.
“If I can change one kid’s perception then the trip home will have been worthwhile,” he said. “I see a lot of myself in these guys because I have been in their shoes and I want to guide them along the right path.”
There will be a homecoming event at the Star Hotel in Montrose on August 29 for the Brechin High pupil, who was brought up as Christian Allday by his mother, Lesley.