Word from above turns hard man around

Photo / Herald on Sunday

As he was facing a stretch in prison for attempted murder, Mongrel Mob enforcer William Grace had an epiphany.

"God came to me and you know what he said? 'Bro,' he said, 'I'm going to get you out of there. Brother, they are going to drop all the charges', and you know what - they did."

The 43-year-old Mr Grace's life to that point was like a broken record - a constant repeat of booze, drugs, "raging" (partying) and violence, lots of it.

He joined Gisborne's Mongrel Mob after his father died prematurely in the 1980s, following other whanau members, nearly all of whom were affiliated to or members of the gang.

After running errands as a "prospect" for patched members, he moved through the ranks to become the gang's sergeant at arms, the man responsible for enforcing its rules - usually with his fists.

"I spent 15 years of my life in there. It was a life of lawlessness. We were against everything the system stood for."

Mr Grace, who fathered 13 children along the way, said his debauched lifestyle led to his facing an attempted murder charge, something he's loath to talk about.

"I was facing a long lag but God came to me and made me realise there was a better path for me and my whanau. I realised I had to go back to the word of God to help myself and my brothers."

Despite the public's preconceptions, he said, many gang members wanted out but didn't know how to go about it.

"A lot of parents in gangs these days are waking up, especially with regards to P," Mr Grace said.

"They're just saying we don't want that for our kids. They've had enough themselves, they've seen a lot of humbug and rubbish and they want to change, but it's a mindset."

Mr Grace is now a part of Te Kakano Aroha o Ihowa Trust, a group of mainly ex-gang members who educate children about the Bible, family values and the consequences of good and bad behaviour.

He often goes through Kaiti, his home suburb, trying to spread the word.

"It's about Black Power and Mongrel Mob members coming together, sitting down and having a korero [chat] and trying to sort it out.

"It felt like I used to go to court every day. These days I do, but it's to help our young kids out."