I was sent to an Approved School at age 12. In three years I absconded best part of 20 times and hitch hiked around the country. In school I was well behaved and cooperative but once the itchy feet started that was it, I was off on my travels. I used to get caned and locked up in solitary for a few weeks when I was returned, but wasn't long before I was off again. I had other issues that caused problems but I was never given a label or a diagnosis. I wasn't ill. I had made a decision that I wasn't going to accept what was happening to me and I didn't, at least until it suited me. Most lads were out in 18 months, I did the full three years and they never broke me. I wonder what they would make of it nowadays.