IT’S a rather tragic story of Helen Price being sent to prison for 12 years for the attempted murder of a shopper in a shoe shop in Newport and this was possibly brought about by the life she had to live as a child. 

My letter even though it doesn’t sound like it, is not trying to condone or make excuses for her actions but she grew up as a child in my street and as other neighbours that are here and were here at the time, we know the miserable life she had.

When her mother died, Helen was about 12 years of age and she had no clothes to wear to her mother’s funeral so the neighbours rallied around, in particular one family with a daughter about the same age and gave her some clothes so she could look decent and clean to attend her mother’s funeral. 

So I think that the rot that Helen has now found herself in began from the day she was born.

Shaun McGuire
Mole Close
Bettws