A former addict is turning his life around in preparation for the Ipswich strongman competition in May.
Warren Backhouse, 23 from Woodbridge, was given a two-year suspended prison sentence in March last year, after being involved in the supply of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.
He had a £200-a-day habit, and started dealing to help fund his addiction.
Now though, Mr Backhouse has turned his focus to competing in the Ipswich strongman competition held on the Waterfront in May.
Mr Backhouse said: "Focusing on this keeps me on track.
"It gives me aims and helps keep me clean.
"I've got nothing to hide, I admitted what I did, and hopefully people will see what I did, but how you can turn your life around and it isn't the end of the world, you can pull through any addiction you have.
"It's been a hard three years with the arrest, constant adjourns, financial orders and the suspended sentence, but this has given me a focus and I am looking forward to it."
Mr Backhouse has competed in three previous strongman competitions, one Suffolk, and another two being the Ipswich tournaments.
He said: "I really look forward to the tournaments.
"It is always a good day.
"The previous times I competed I was either still struggling with addiction or coming in and out of the hospital, so it was quite hard to bounce back.
"Now, I am training five times a week and do a lot of event training.
"Eating an awful lot of food, getting lots of rest and sleep and training five days is preparing me well for the competition."
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