A man who has been jailed after blowing up a cash machine and stealing £19,000 claimed he had left a life of crime after finding God.

Gary Smith, 39, of Norton Crescent, Tonbridge, has been jailed along with the four other members of a gang for a combined total of over 30 years after using gas to explode an ATM in Sevenoaks.

Smith, who played a part in a string of bank robberies across the county, is listed as an actor for BBC three after his part in the TV series, The Real Hustle - a factual entertainment series about scams and cons demonstrating how easy it is to be scammed in everyday life.

On his profile page on talent website, StarNow, he explains his background and claims he left the life of crime after he found God.

In 2006, the dad-of-two posted on the site saying: "Since being expelled from school at the age of 13 I have had a number of dead-end jobs, however, my main occupation was theft and robbery."

Smith also appeared in the Channel 4 show, Friday Night Project in 2007 where he played a head gangster alongside actor, Ashley Jenson.

"I went home and sat in a trance. My life had changed forever, I found God and I am no longer a criminal" - Gary Smith, 2006

He claims that two in 2004 on the way to a criminal meeting he was driving his car when he felt as though somebody was turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction, pointing him back to his home - away from the crime he was about to commit.

On the website he added: "I went home and sat in a trance. My life had changed forever, I found God and I am no longer a criminal."

Despite his new found faith, he was jailed for five years and four months after being found guilty of conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to cause an explosion and two counts of attempting to cause an explosion.

He also appeared in 'Jealous River' a story about the history of Tonbridge, 'The Canterbury Tales' with the Little Bridge Theatre Group in Tonbridge and a play at Tonbridge Boy's School titled 'Fen'.

Smith appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday July 15 along with Jason Robert Selwood, 30 of Welland Road, Tonbridge, Lee Spinks, 28, of Waverley House, Beckenham, Danny Smith, 30, of High Street, Sheerness, and Luke Cassidy, 28 of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone.