Cutting edge: pictures from the life of a former London gang leader

Jean-Claude Dargou (left), also known as Vipoh, and his friends play football outside his flat in Brixton, south London. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude shows the scars he received after being attached by a rival group of up to 20 youths in 2007. His life was saved when a doctor found him on the street after the attack and brought him to hospital. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude and friends play with fireworks on Halloween night. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

A young member of the Organised Criminals crew in Myatts Field estate, Brixon, shows a wound on his leg. It is the result of being shot in a drive-by attack that was part of a long-running feud with the local rival gang Peckham Young Gunners. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Bucky pays respect to his friend Fatz, who was gunned down at this spot in Brixton in 2006. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude and his crew being issued an S60 by local police in south London. This controversial stop-and-search policy was introduced to disperse groups of youths and prevent anti-ocial behaviour. It has been widely criticised, and police have been accused of targeting particular groups in poor areas, often of black, Asian and mixed ethnicity. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Tracer smoking marijuana in his flat in Croydon, south London. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Members of the Stockwell Park Estate crew out on the streets on a Friday night. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

A member of the Stockwell Park Estate crew shows how much money they've made from selling drugs on a Friday night. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude in bed with Mo in her house in Doncaster. They met in late 2009, when she was in London visiting friends. They decided to leave London to live in her hometown of Doncaster. This helped Jean-Claude escape the gang environment of south London. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude goes shopping in Doncaster. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude relaxes in the bath at his new home in Doncaster. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude tries to cook while girlfriend Mo is heavily pregnant. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude holding his newborn son Curtis, named after his favourite musician, 50 Cent. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude givies Curtis a bath. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude with his friend Stackz, who recently moved from London to live in Doncaster. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures

Jean-Claude dances at a barbecue at his home while his girlfriend's sister and son look on. Photograph: Adam Patterson / Panos Pictures