A former troublemaker once dubbed Britain’s ‘naughtiest kid’ now earns £360,000 a year operating a personal development academy in Thailand. Tom Roberts, 24, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, helps clients transform their lives after his own dramatic turnaround from violence and jail time.

Early Years of Rebellion

At age 11, Roberts appeared on a Channel 4 program where his disruptive behavior stood out. Expelled from primary school weeks before completion for insulting the headteacher as a ‘bald idiot k******d,’ he frequently clashed with peers and authority figures, including brawling, escaping through windows, and challenging teachers.

Entering secondary school, another expulsion followed after three months. He then attended Archers Brook, a specialist school in Ellesmere Port, where he completed all his GCSEs successfully.

Descent into Trouble and Turning Point

Roberts later served time in a young offenders institution for grievous bodily harm. The death of his father, Lou, from alcoholism at age 56 exacerbated his struggles with anger and emotions.

Reflecting on his past, Roberts states: ‘I got into a lot of trouble. I was always fighting and I didn’t know how to control my emotions. The death of my dad made things a lot worse and I was pushing everyone around me to their limits.’

After two jail sentences and the ‘naughtiest kid’ label, he immersed himself in self-help books and sought guidance from wellness mentors, including Bob Proctor. This inspired him to relocate to Koh Samui, Thailand, and launch his academy.

Generation I: A Global Success

Roberts’ Generation I academy serves over 240 clients worldwide, generating £30,000 monthly. He describes his role as an entrepreneur shaping lives, akin to a therapist, helping people become their best selves.

‘The show labelled me ‘Britain’s naughtiest kid’ and it was hard to escape that. But after two jail sentences I knew I couldn’t keep living this way,’ Roberts explains. ‘I had to make a change and found comfort in reading about wellness and the mind. It inspired me to help others and for those not to make the same mistakes I did.’

Acknowledging his past behavior as ‘awful,’ he adds: ‘Looking back at my younger self, I agree that my behaviour was awful. But I also see a boy who needed help and guidance. You are not defined by your past and I’m living proof that you can always turn a new leaf. Never give up.’