Offenders who turned their lives around after referral to the Mental Health Treatment Court praised the system at a special Thanksgiving ceremony.

A trio of people sent to the court, designed to emphasise care over punishment, said the approach had changed their lives as they celebrated completion of their programmes.

Andrew Arorash, who has found a job and got engaged over his time with the court, said: “I believe in this court so much.

“When I fall down the cracks, someone will get me up and that’s what I appreciate.”

But senior magistrate Juan Wolffe, who was the first judge to preside over the court, said it had benefited the bench as well as those who had passed before it.

Mr Wolffe added: “I have a profound and deep gratitude, not only for how you have grown but also how you made me grow.”

He told the group: “Continue what you are doing – this is not your final destination.

“You have bigger and better things to do and you will.”

Maxanne Anderson, the magistrate who now sits on the bench in the court, told Mr Arorash: “I love that always look on the positive side and that you have never given up on yourself.”

Sahrika DeSilva, 33, from Devonshire, said she had appeared in court two years ago for a crime of violence and took up an offer of a referral to the specialist service.

She told the court: “My life hasn’t been the best.

“I have come an extremely long way and I hope that it continues.”

Ms Anderson told her: “I commend you for never giving up and always being honest with us.”

They were speaking last Thursday in Magistrates’ Court as Mr Arorash, Ms DeSilva and another man, who asked not to be named, were presented with certificates to mark their milestones.

The man said: “I am very thankful to be in the programme. I am slowly but surely turning into the man I want to be – I am improving in myself every day and it is wonderful.”

Ms Anderson told him: “When you first came here, you never smiled and now your smile brightens up the room.

“I love that about you.”

Mr Wolffe said: “You cannot be dispassionate in this court. You can’t help but have deep and profound admiration for those in this court.

“Some may be thrown away or deemed as ’less than’.

“But the people who take part are some of the strongest and most courageous people you can meet.

“I have a whole lot of admiration, particularly for those struggling who rose like a phoenix from the ashes – it took a lot of work.”

Others still in the programme thanked the court for its help towards a fresh start.

One said: “I am thankful for the support system around me.”

Another added: “I am thankful for life, I am thankful for freedom and my family, and friends.”

The mental health court initiative was launched as a pilot programme in 2013 to provide treatment services to people accused of offences who were identified as having mental health problems.

Carys Caisey, a soon to retire mental health nurse, Pc Kidane Collins, who provides support to participants and Roger Parris, of the Department of Parks’ skills development programme, which takes people from the court were singled out as instrumental in the success of the programme.

Mr Wolffe gave special praise to Kelly Madeiros, who coordinates the programme through the Department of Court Services, Russ Ford, a senior probation officer, Gina Hurst-Maybury, the director of the Department of Court Services and Nick Lewis, a probation officer for their work to make the special court a success.

Alison Crocket, the Deputy Governor, Tinee Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors and Renee Ming, the Minister of National Security, also attended the ceremony.

Ms Furbert said: "Someone mentioned the importance of compassion and that has to expand outside of this courtroom.”

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Sahrika DeSilva admitted she was a heavy smoker of marijuana when she appeared in Magistrates’ Court two years ago.

She said she had no motivation and was often abusive towards people.

Ms DeSilva added: “I used to scream and shout and curse people out.

“I couldn’t stay at home as I was arguing with my family.

“I got into a fight with a girl as I thought she was laughing at me.

“When it came to court, I decided wanted to go through the Mental Health Treatment Court.

“The doctor recommended a new medicine and when I tried that it was like my whole life transformed.”

Ms DeSilva said she found purpose when she signed up for the Skills Development Programme run by Roger Parris at the parks department.

She added: “The skills programme helps me not to smoke marijuana – because I was working all the time I wasn’t smoking.

“I had a job to be proud of and I was gaining skills. It was amazing.

“I have grown as a person and have learnt that success comes from failure, and that if you are not willing to try then you are not going to get anywhere.

“I went through a lot of rocky roads but I learnt a lot.”

Ms DeSilva said she was still involved with the skills development programme and that she was working on a GED qualification.