AN INSPIRATIONAL man from Penarth, has won a royal award after turning his life around following a prison sentence for drugs charges.

In 2012 Toby Guest was jailed for four years and ten months for his role in a drugs gang.

Faced with spending nearly five years in prison Toby, 26, from Penarth became reserved and withdrawn, and as time went on he stopped believing in himself.

Toby had previously played football for Bristol City and, when his prison officer discovered this, he was encouraged to join "Get started with Football" a Prince's Trust programme run in partnership with Cardiff City FC.

The programme is designed to build the confidence of disadvantaged young people and create motivation.

The Prince's Trust Football Initiative, funded by the Premier League and PFA helps 16 to 25-year-olds who may have struggled in school, been in care, are long term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.

It helps them to gain new qualifications in partnership with professional football clubs.

Making a good impression on Cardiff City's coaching team, Toby said the programme made a huge impact on his outlook, attitude and overall wellbeing.

Feeling his confidence returning, Toby became more motivated and started setting himself new goals.

He engaged with as many opportunities as he could to help improve his chances of finding work when he was released and his turnaround was praised by his prison officers as a shining example to offenders of what can be achieved if you use your time constructively.

Toby was later transferred to an open prison where he was quick to approach the resettlement officer to express his ambition to volunteer at Cardiff City FC. His request was accepted.

Speaking after winning the HSBC Breakthrough Award at The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards last week, Toby said: "Getting that opportunity to volunteer with Cardiff City brought back all the good that had happened to me before things had gone wrong.

"I started to feel more like the old me again. Things are going really, really well now.”

Toby’s dedication and professional work ethic has led to paid employment at Cardiff City, where he is now a full time tutor working and coaching on Prince’s Trust Get Started Courses.

He has also enrolled on a Foundation Degree with South Wales University.

"I can’t believe I won the award," he said. "My life is unrecognisable from a few years back and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved.”