In sum, the programme has shown me I have some purpose in my life after all.”Recidivism for the group on release was 13 per cent, compared with the US average of 62.5 per cent.At Oakwood Forensic Center in Lima, Ohio, which houses the criminally insane in a maximum security wing, Dave Lee, a psychiatric social worker, noticed extraordinary improvements in patients after an injured sparrow, found in the prison yard, was smuggled into a ward of depressed and non- communicative patients.The bird was hidden in a broom cupboard and fed with insects caught by the patients. For the first time, they began acting as a group and talking to staff.When the bird was discovered, staff realised that animals might be therapeutic and launched a year-long study between two matched wards, one with pets and one without. The patients on the pet ward required half the normal amount of medication, violence was reduced and there were no suicide attempts. At the same time, they studied to become animal laboratory technicians Mr Strimple found: “The time spent with the animal … has produced a modification of behaviour from a violent, often malicious personality, to a caring, responsible individual.”One of the prisoners, serving 45 years to life for murder, told him: “When I came here, I didn’t like cats; now I have one, and a rat Also I was illiterate; now I’m taking courses. Earl Strimple, a Washington vet, and James Moneymaker, a criminologist, studied “Pet Facilitated Therapy” at Lorton Correctional Facility in Virginia. They wrote: “The programme gave a unique opportunity for individuals who have committed heinous crimes to redeem themselves.

The opportunity to show love and compassion to an animal may have lasting effects on what was heretofore a hardened criminal.”At Lorton, prisoners with pets were responsible for keeping them healthy and caring for them. “Those who are the most dangerous can be gentle with pets.”Elsewhere in the world, the benefits are already widely documented. Paris went on to become a registered PAT therapy dog, visiting inmates of Garth prison as well as the elderly and handicapped.”The addition of animals in prison has a magic effect on prisoners,” said Ms Whyham. “The relationship between staff and prisoners seems to improve, and there is less violence.”Prison officers can also be convinced “There are angry, bitter men in prisons,” said one. Mrs Whyham became enthused when she took her boxer bitch, Paris, in to work, and saw how popular she was with young offenders, who took the dog for walks, petted her and inquired about her health. “We have every walk of life in the world of referees and we do not even think about anything like ethnic background. If you are good enough, we will take you.”So what makes a good referee? “In the modern age, if you want to progress, you have to be fit.

You need man-management skills, a love of the game and the ability to decide ‘is it or isn’t it’. Those who first come along to the course usually get a shock They do not appreciate that the laws are simple. Other people make them complicated.”Willis admits some are put off the criticism and abuse from players, managers and fans, but insists it is not an important factor “If a supporter does not agree with you, they will tell you That’s a fact of life It would be awful if there was no one shouting. Abuse is something different and I have no time for it, but it is nowhere near as bad as people make out.”Just as on the promotion pyramid for clubs, referees can climb the ladder. If you pass the initial course, you become a class three official and referee at the lowest level.All referees are marked by the teams in the matches they officiate and if the marks are good enough at the end of a season, they are promoted, eventually becoming a class one and moving up the leagues, each time running the line at a higher standard before refereeing there. In theory, a referee who qualifies this season could be running out in the Premiership in seven or eight years.

From there, the world is waiting.”There is football in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. In this world of football we have today, referees from England take charge of games in all competitions,” said Willis, who refereed in the Football League for 28 years “It is a passport to world travel A passport to paradise If I was 35 years old. .”Always game when Saturday comesDave Higgs does not hold with those who say there is no sportsmanship left in the world. And he should know because he has been refereeing football matches for nearly 40 years after a long career as an inside-forward with Woodlands Albion.Higgs is 70 and still referees every week in the Old Boys and Southern Olympian Leagues in London. He took up the whistle when he was 33 and has enjoyed it ever since.”I used to play, but then someone said why didn’t I have a go at refereeing,” said Higgs, who has reason to be grateful to that anonymous adviser.”I enjoyed it. I have slowed down a bit since, but I still do, mostly because of the people you meet. You get well-treated and have a drink and a meal afterwards.”Higgs only reached class two as a referee but did not mind.

He officiates at matches around north London and has run the line at some of the grounds of the more senior clubs and refereed local cup finals. Take the prisoner who was allowed to keep a stray kitten found hiding in bushes near his cell He said: “This wee cat saved my sanity. The wee cat was the first thing I showed affection to in seven years.”It is becoming clear that pets in prison bring all sorts of benefits, including reduced violence, lower suicide rates, less drug-taking and even, it is claimed, less reoffending.A Lancashire vet, Elizabeth Ormerod, and an assistant chief probation officer, Mary Whyham, are spearheading a British scheme to extend the role of pets and farms in prisons. I think this sort of initiative will begin to humanise the regimes and make it possible to find different ways of resolving conflict.”Sammy’s experience is not unique. I’d like to encourage management and prisoners in other establishments, especially young offender establishments, to take a lead from Shotts’ unit and set up pet schemes. When he was given two hamsters, he cared for them, too.Later Sammy wrote in a prison magazine: “Since becoming the owner of these three animals, I have learnt that all animals will defend themselves against cruelty and ill-treatment, in the same way I have done in the past.