'I’d had so much to drink I had no idea what I’d done'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Having spent his life struggling with his own self-esteem, Martin Preston never felt like he was good enough. Surrounded by high achievers at Manchester Grammar School, he was an average student, not overly sporty and wasn’t super popular with girls.

So when he had his first sip of alcohol at 14, something inside him changed. Suddenly, he had confidence. He was better at socialising.

He felt happier. “I loved it,” the 39-year-old, who lives in Altrincham, said. “As a teen, it was great fun.” READ MORE: 'I was told I was going to wreck my legs and didn't listen': Woman's agonising symptoms after past returned to haunt her But that fun wouldn’t last long.

Martin quickly became known as the friend who would always take his drinking too far – going out at every opportunity and jumping between friendship groups to ensure he was always at a party.