FOOTBALL hero Ian Wright spoke about his own time behind bars when took his coaching team of young criminals to a Weymouth primary school.

The former Arsenal and England player visited St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School with four inmates from Portland’s Young Offender Institution.

The afternoon was part of Mr Wright’s new TV show Banged to Wrights, which aims to create a prison football team to eventually play in front of Premier League scouts.

Mr Wright also spoke about his own brush with the law.

He said: “I drove cars without the required papers and they caught me because I owed so much money.

“I went into Chelmsford Prison when I was 19 and it completely changed my life.

“It had a positive effect on me because I knew I did not want to end up in jail.

“It totally changed my thinking.”

The nine and 10 year olds from year five were delighted to meet the star – who is teaching the young offenders coaching skills to help with their rehabilitation.

They bundled him to the floor in excitement.

Mr Wright said: “I can’t thank the headmaster enough for giving us this opportunity.

“It’s something that we feel will benefit our boys and the children.

“They are trying to rectify what they’ve done.

“If I could say anything to any parents who might have concerns, the children are in the safest hands because the boys have got themselves in a position to be released through hard-work.”

All of the inmates training the children were allowed to be released on temporary licence due to their behaviour in the YOI.

Mr Wright added: “The guys don’t want to be in prison and they’re here because they’re model prisoners.

“We need people like the headmaster to have open minds as they deserve a chance.”

Wright is hoping that the scheme can continue for a long time, with local schools welcoming the young offenders.

Headteacher Stephen Mason said it was great for St Augustine’s.

He said: “It’s not often we have a famous person in school. I think having a very special footballer here is obviously great and the inmates know what they are doing because they were taught by Ian Wright himself.

“He knows a thing or two about the sport.”

Rebecca Plummer came to see her son Richard.

She said: “I’ve explained to my son that they’ve come from the YOI.

“All kids do things wrong sometimes.”

After learning football skills from the prisoners with his classmates, pupil Arran Sawyer said: “It’s been great doing the football and meeting Ian Wright.

“The coaches have been great and they should come again.”

Fellow pupil Sophie Warwick, aged 10, said: “I’ve seen Ian Wright on television. We want them to come again even.”