‘Beaten, urinated on and groomed into a gang’: GB News regular shares inspiring redemption story after escaping streets and fighting for second chance
Former Labour adviser Matthew Torbitt shared his remarkable journey from homelessness to political influence during an appearance on GB News.
Torbitt revealed how he went from sleeping rough on Manchester’s streets as a teenager to successfully changing legislation around spent criminal sentences.
His story demonstrates how personal adversity transformed into political purpose.
Torbitt explained he was the eldest of four children in a working-class family where his parents lacked formal academic qualifications.
“Me and my parents didn’t really get on – I think they were getting to grips with being parents and I was a bit of a rebellious teenager,” he said.
His mother eventually “had enough” and kicked him out when he was 15.
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Torbitt described his year on Manchester’s streets as harrowing. “Being beaten up and urinated on was a regular occurrence,” he revealed.
He was eventually “groomed into a gang” where he became a “stooge” in exchange for shelter.
His situation culminated in legal troubles and a suspended 12-month prison sentence with community service.
Torbitt’s life changed when his best friend’s parents took him in. Unlike his own family, they were university-educated and “knew how to access the system.”
They encouraged him to pursue education, telling him: “You’re not a daft lad you can get your GCSEs and you can go to uni.”
Meanwhile, he struggled to find employment due to his criminal record.
Frustrated by employment barriers, Torbitt decided to challenge the law itself. “I thought, ‘I’ll write to my MP and we will change the law’,” he said.
He travelled across the country with letters explaining his situation to MPs.
His initiative led to interviews with former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken and Andy Burnham.
Burnham was impressed by Torbitt’s direct approach. “I said to him, ‘you’ve agreed with me for the last 45 minutes. What have you done about it?'” Torbitt recalled.
The politician “liked my attitude and asked if I wanted to shadow him in Westminster,” leading to valuable political experience.
Torbitt’s efforts paid off. Jonathan Aitken contributed to a review of spent sentence legislation, despite disagreeing with some of Torbitt’s views.
Simon Hughes, then Justice Minister in the coalition government, subsequently halved the waiting period for spent sentences.
This meant Torbitt would only need to wait six years rather than eleven before his conviction became spent.
The change meant Torbitt wouldn’t have to declare his conviction at job interviews after the reduced waiting period.
This success inspired his political ambitions. “I thought ‘if a gobby lad from Stockport can change the law, imagine what I can do in the building’,” he reflected.
His journey exemplifies how personal advocacy can lead to meaningful legislative change.