He was a 'gang banger'. Now he's going straight

Nigel Dixon used to appear in court every six months. He hated police, served time in jail and hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

But he has turned his life around, says he is helping the police by working with young people and wants to put his past behind him.

The Rotorua father of two said he hit rock bottom last year while on drugs. He was arrested and charged after failing to stop for police.

"I wasn't thinking. I never used to think. I was a gang banger, trigger puller, car jacker and drug slanger ... The only thing I was thinking about was the next hit, where I'd get the next drug hit. I hit rock bottom. It was time to grow up. I had children, I had responsibilities. I just wanted help but I didn't know where to get that help."

Mr Dixon, 26, said he started "praying for help" every morning and night. He said he went along with a 10-year-old family member to Rotorua's Destiny Church.

"When I first came here the service felt long. I was waiting for it to end.

"Then one day Pastor Rewi [Hare] asked if there was anyone who hadn't given their life to the Lord. There was something that pushed me out of the row and made me go up the front and give my life to the Lord."

Now when Mr Dixon goes to church he doesn't want to leave.

Mr Dixon made headlines in 2004 for having his traffic fines of $43,000 wiped in exchange for 300 hours' community work. The case sparked a national outcry after Dixon later told The Daily Post he chose not to pay the fines because he "hated the cops". He was jailed in December that year for two months after failing to do the community work.

Mr Dixon said he did not want to focus on his criminal past but admitted he had appeared in court almost every six months, first appearing as a youth in the Rotorua Youth Court after "I flipped a car and just about killed everyone".

Mr Dixon also spent time in the mental health facility Henry Bennett Centre in Hamilton.

"I was paranoid schizophrenic and I've conquered that." He said he was no longer on any medication.

Looking back at when his $43,000 fines were wiped, Mr Dixon said he was grateful for the break the judge gave him. He said he no longer hated police and was also sorry for the trouble he had caused and the people he had let down.

Rotorua police said Mr Dixon was "a lot better than he used to be" and was doing a lot of work with youth.

Mr Dixon admitted he'd had trouble trusting people but mixing with a group of men at Destiny Church, some of whom who had similar backgrounds to him, had helped him a lot.

"I get a lot of support from the brothers at Destiny ... They are straight up. They are real. They are good fathers and husbands."

Mr Dixon has given up alcohol and drugs and last week travelled to Auckland's Destiny Church to take a vow of abstinence from sex before marriage, drugs and alcohol.

He doesn't want to return to his old life. "Who would want to when I'm where I am now. I want better for my life."

He said he would like to get married one day and own a house and a business.

He has been completing some courses, has been helping at Rotovegas Boxing Gym, volunteers his time working with young people and is completing a youth worker's certificate.

He also appreciates the support of Pastor Rewi and his wife, Davinalee. Pastor Davinalee made Mr Dixon a special magazine cover for him which features a photograph of him and inspiring quotes that he has written. Mr Dixon said looking at the cover inspired him to be a better person. The cover was put on Facebook and within 24 hours it had attracted 100 likes and 40 comments.

Mr Dixon said he was a work in progress but wanted to be a better father and role model.

"I feel a million bucks. I feel full of love and happiness for life and what's in store for me. Nothing is impossible. Anything is possible," he said.

"Life's the journey. Just find the right one that's going to better yourselves, your children and generations to come."