Pete, 38, "died" three times when his heart stopped after overdosing on heroin.
Paramedics saved him and thanks to a programme of intensive supervision he has been clean and off drugs for three years.
The reason for the dramatic turnaround in his fortunes is the Prolific and other Priority Offenders (PPO) programme.
The aim of the programme is to target the 10 per cent of offenders who commit more than half the crimes in this country.
Pete definitely fell into that category having served 21 different prison sentences.
In North Wales, the PPO programme is being championed by, among others, the region's Criminal Justice Board.
Along with a number of other agencies, they are funding the secondment of Senior Probation Officer Stif Richards to North Wales Police to oversee the scheme here.
Mr Richards said: "Pete has come on a remarkable journey and hopefully his example will prove an inspiration to others who follow in his footsteps.
Pete said he was a heroin addict for 20 years stealing every day to get money for the drug.
"It's a miserable lifestyle where you wake up every morning and you have to find money and then when you've found the money, you've got to find a dealer.
"It was a nasty, vicious circle. I'd need £20 in the morning and £20 in the evening – four bags would do you.
"In the end I just grew up and I got the support I needed to give up. I did a detox in jail and that lasted two weeks – that was murder on my body. I am lucky to be alive."
Pete praised the PPO programme which kept him busy with a variety of activities like gorge walking and rock climbing.
Now he is trying to map out a new life for himself.
"I have been clean for three years now. I used to wake up ill every morning wanting heroin – now I just wake up feeling normal like everybody else.It's given me a new lease of life."
He was an apprenticeship plumber but was distracted by his drugs problem Now he is going back to college get NVQs in plumbing.
"This is the start of a whole new life. At one time I couldn't stand the probation service or the police but they've been brilliant."