While a brilliant pupil who excels in his studies at school, his studious nature causes conflicts with his working-class family and the wider, gang-riddled neighbourhood.

On his final day, John is accosted by Canta, a local bully and member of the Hardridge Puka Pie Gang, or young balti as they were known who intimidates him, threatening to beat him up when he moves to secondary school.

John relays the details of the encounter to his brother who enlists the help of his fellow gang members to track down and assault Canta as punishment.

Informed by the headmaster that he will be moved up to the appropriate level by Christmas time by proving he is different from his brother, who assaulted two teachers and was expelled, he successfully progresses.

They stop harassing him, ask him to join them and offer John vodka and cigarettes which he accepts, marking the start of his downward spiral.

When the school year recommences, John has changed his ways for the worse: drawing graffiti on desks, being impolite to teachers and smoking cigarettes in the toilets at break time.

In revenge for the rejection by Julian's family, John throws a pair of football boots full of fireworks through the dining room window while they are eating.

Returning, they hurl a bicycle through the function room window, urging the Car-D to give chase up to the edge of their territory where they escape via a walkway.

John confronts him about the bullying incident years earlier, and agrees to move past it, but Canta makes a snide remark as he turns away.

His mother orders John out of the house and he is forced to take refuge in the machine room in a block of high rise flats, living on deliveries of bread and milk stolen from tenants.

Seeing a statue of Jesus, who John jokingly urges to come down, he has a glue-fuelled vision that Christ accepts the offer but then challenges him on his poor life choices.