Dave, I am sorry to hear that your childhood had its difficulties, but I am sure your mother had good moral standards, and imparted them to you. It isn't poverty per se which gives rise to criminality but moral poverty. Even people living on a 'sink estate' are incredibly well-off compared to many West African families I have seen. But the moral compass is missing, as are any decent role models. Violence is commonplace, and parenting lamentably bad. A child raised thus is very likely to offend when older.