tearaway Spiderboy has vowed to turn his back on crime, after the birth of his son.

Tommy Laws, 21, was released from prison just days ago and said his son, Tom Jnr, has changed his life.

Laws, whose girlfriend Michelle Suniga, 18, gave birth in January, said: "Things are different now, I've got responsibilities.

"I'm not going back to prison. It's not that it bothers me, I have been institutionalised since I was 11 and it's like second home to me.

"It's not the system that has changed me, it's Tom. Maybe if I had had him when I was 15 things would have been different."

Laws hit the headlines as a one-boy crimewave and was dubbed Spiderboy after a series of roof-top escapes from police.

Laws, who has been in court 34 times, was jailed nine months ago for affray and escaping from custody.

He is now involved in making a documentary aimed at steering youngsters away from crime.

Laws said: "I realised there is no point me going back inside when I can be out here with him.

"I did a course on parenting when I was in Durham jail. I haven't changed a nappy yet, but I will.

"I've already had offers to go back to crime, but I don't want to. I've got my son and I've got this job, so it's a good start."

Laws has been recruited by the Cedarwood Trust, a charity on the Meadow Well estate, North Shields, North Tyneside, to make the £15,000 anti-crime documentary.