A 17-stone, six-foot tall American covered from head to toe in tattoos, with studs on his face and ears, was drafted in by Testway Housing to persuade teenagers from Andover and Romsey in Hampshire that hate, violence and prejudice are not the answer.

Scary Guy visited more than 700 unsuspecting school children aged 11 to 15 last Wednesday and Thursday to teach them how to be nicer to each other, stop judging people and to promote positive behaviour.

He visited pupils and teachers from Mark Way School, John Hanson School and Winton School in Andover and Mountbatten School in Romsey.