My name is William James Sittlington. I am currently on remand (April,'09), for a violent crime, in HMP Maghaberry, N Ireland. This happened because of my drink problem - I had become an alcoholic at a low point in my life.

I was born in Scotland in May 1982, then put up for adoption in Northern Ireland. I was fostered and finally adopted in 1986. As a child I did attend Sunday School etc. I suppose I always had a belief in Jesus. When I was about nine years old I found out I was adopted, and this sent me down a road of destruction. I felt like an outcast. I started to smoke and drink. I was introduced to cannabis. It was costly, so aged 12, I started to do robberies to get money. We started a gang and I was driving illegally on the roads, buying fast cars etc. At 14 my friends looked up to me. I felt I was invincible. I was hard to catch with my fast driving etc. for getaways. I started an apprenticeship at a power station. In the year 2000 I robbed a cash-and-carry and got 40,000 pounds worth of cigarettes. I got caught and did eleven months in a Young Offenders' Centre. When released I kept on robbing and stealing etc.

It was then that the paramilitaries were looking for me; they caught me and told me that I was going to get a kicking. A hood was put over my head and I was put in the boot of a car. I was interrogated and beaten. I was told I was going to be shot twice in my leg and once in my arm. They shot me in the arm and told me to stand a certain way. I heard a bang, my leg throbbed and I was told to stand again. I was picked up and again heard a bang: I fell to the ground. They threw me back in the boot of the car and dropped me off, telling me an ambulance would soon be there. The police arrived on the scene; I was in a bad way. I heard them say on their radio, "Young Sittlington, it's about time you got it."

They joked and kicked me around a bit. When the ambulance came I passed out. I was told at the hospital that my leg would have to be amputated. I had two arteries blown out and my central nerve and tendon to my big toe. My arm was OK. I told them I wanted a second opinion and did not want my leg removed. I went through eight surgical operations. I prayed and prayed that God would help me to walk again. I did walk again.

When I left hospital I met a girl and we got married. We had a child who was born with problems - abnormal chin and could not breathe on her own. I prayed again even though I was not a Christian. God worked miracle after miracle. To everyone's surprise my daughter needed no surgery. My daughter is a beautiful 4-year-old child now.

I split with my wife because of her heroin addiction. I started drinking again and ended up here in prison. Now I want to share the amazing thing that happened to me. I was told that if I ever had any more problems with my leg that I would lose it. By this time I was in prison for 6 months. I woke one morning in terrible pain, for my leg had swollen up like a balloon. I was rushed to the hospital where I was told I might have a blood clot. They scanned me and sent me back to prison. The next day it was worse - I knew I was in trouble here. A Christian friend in the prison said, "Come to my cell tonight and we will pray." I had some belief so I said "OK"

My friend prayed a powerful prayer, a prayer of healing from the Lord. We both prayed this prayer together. That night I prayed and said, "Lord please make that healing prayer work."

When I woke the next morning I could not believe it: all the swelling had gone, I had no pain, I was not limping. This was surely impossible. Swelling takes weeks to come down. I went to my friend and shared what happened. He said, "It's unbelievable, it's a miracle" - he could hardly believe it himself. I was healed. Amazingly the Lord also healed a cartilage problem in my knee - it was also healed. We both prayed and thanked the Lord. Since this happened I dedicated my life to Christ and became a Christian. This was God, it has changed my life. I study my Bible and now pray every day. The Lord truly works miracles. I tell everyone about what happened to me. I will not go back to my old life because He has shown me a new and better way. I used to have pictures of naked women on my cell wall. I have taken them down because they made me feel dirty inside; I have also stopped smoking.

I want to thank you for reading this testimony. I hope it helps you to accept Christ into your life.