These stunning pictures show how a former drug addict thief turned her life around when she was told she had just 12 months to live.
Caroline Best, 36, looked twice her age because of her drug dependency and time served behind bars.
Her heart had started to fail because of addictions to heroin and crack and doctors refused to perform essential heart surgery until she was free from drugs.
But her life changed when Birmingham PC Stuart Toogood stepped in to help the former shoplifter by offering a place in a rehab facility.
Now, celebrating 12 months free from drugs, Caroline is repaying the help she received - by assisting other drug addicts turn away from crime.
She said: “Thanks to Stuart Toogood, I’m now a productive member of society and I thank him for helping me do something I couldn’t do on my own. I am living proof that we can recover."
And happily she no longer needs surgery as the faulty heart valve repaired itself, thanks to her healthy lifestyle, BirminghamLive reports.
PC Toogood, from Birmingham Neighbourhood team, added: "Our Offender to Rehab Programme has so far successfully placed nine prolific offenders into rehab.
“Of the five who have completed the programme one has gained full time employment at Timpson, two have worked as volunteers for Birmingham Mind charity and completed adult education courses.
"They have also been ambassadors, presented at several business conferences to raise awareness of the programme and the benefits of it for the business community.
"And two people are in aftercare at dry houses − one should be progressing into employment soon whilst the other is about to undertake adult education courses.
“Four other people are currently in treatment and doing well. Several others are in the process of being assessed for rehab placement.
“This has resulted in a huge reduction of shop thefts in and around the Birmingham North and East regions as many offences were being committed by a core group of offenders.
“We are certainly seeing a benefit in this new approach."
