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A teenage victim of child criminal exploitation told how he wanted to become a gangster - but his dream quickly turned into a nightmare.

"Anthony" - not his real name used to protect his identity - is a former young offender in Staffordshire who has spoken on his shocking experience at the front line of criminality after he was suckered into the lifestyle.

Knife glamorising criminals groomed him - but he told how he didn't realise he was being exploited and thought he was just hanging around with "friends".

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Howev

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