HE was kicked out of college at 17 and months later he was behind bars for robbing a taxi driver.

Leyton Taylor was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. His life, as he knew it, was over.

But in 2006, while still in jail, he found an unlikely ally — His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

Leyton became involved with the Prince’s Trust, which was running a football course at HMP Hindley.

The Get Started with Football scheme was set up to help young people improve their confidence and learn new skills through the sport. Leyton has never looked back.

Move forward three years and the 22-year-old, who lives in Radcliffe with his girlfriend, is studying to become a quantity surveyor at Bolton University and is now an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.

He said: “The football course helped to bring back my confidence and motivation and, when I left Hindley, the Prince’s Trust was there for me and helped me to find work.

“Being able to come out of prison and get a job really helped me get back on my feet.”

At a recent fund-raising event for the charity at Eaton Park, Cheshire, Leyton even came face to face with the man who helped to turn his life around.

“Meeting Prince Charles was quite nerve-racking,” said Leyton, “but he seemed interested in what I was saying and spoke to me for about 30 seconds.”

Now, Leyton speaks to other youngsters about his life of crime and about going to prison.

He claims teenagers are more likely to listen to someone like him than to a “stuffy guy in a suit”.

He said: “I enjoy speaking to kids. I’m not shy and I’ve given presentations to more than 100 people.

“Kids are more likely to listen to me because I’ve been there and done it. I don’t lie to them. I tell them the truth about prison. But you can only change if you want to change.”

Leyton added: “The Prince’s Trust helped me but I had to want to change for myself and my girlfriend.

“One day I want to settle down, get married and start a family. Now I have a second chance to make something of my life.”