A FORMER pupil of a Greenock school has gone from being a decoy in underage booze sale stings to fully fledged police officer — after being inspired by a community constable.

Lewis Reaney used to help bust unscrupulous shopkeepers by buying drink from them before police moved in and exercised their powers under licensing laws.

Now he's completed the feat of joining Police Scotland straight from leaving Notre Dame High following a series of encouraging pep talks from Inverclyde schools liaison officer Kirsty Boyd.

Lewis said: "Kirsty has built good relationships with the young people in the schools.

"She gave me great advice and she was always giving talks in the school.

"It was her who put the idea in my head to join the police."

Trailblazer Lewis has himself already inspired another ex-pupil of the school to join the force.

Proud PC Kirsty told how Lewis enthusiastically took on every challenge she set him.

She said: "There were various different things that I threw at him — test purchasing officer was one, where he'd help the police in terms of going into licensed premises and buy alcohol as an underage person.

"We had some successful results with that.

"He did his work experience with the police and was a very successful candidate.

"Anything that I threw at Lewis he was more than willing to take on the challenge."

Kirsty added: "Very early doors Lewis had come to me keen to find out about a career in the police.

"Every time I was in the school he was looking to find out about my experiences, or looking to find out what he could do in order to make a career in the police."

Lewis initially applied, at the age of 17, to become a special constable but bosses quickly spotted his potential and encouraged him to join up in full, which he did at 18.

Now 20, he said: "It's busy but it's good to be busy and get involved in different things."

Notre Dame head teacher Kate Couttie said: "It's Kirsty's openness and honesty that makes the pupils look at her and think, 'I could do that'.

"Her involvement with the schools has led to such a strong relationship between young people and the police and we will bear the fruits of that for years to come."

Kate added: "To have a young man seeing that and being inspired by Kirsty's work and taking that forward, well, we're hugely proud of that.

"We're absolutely delighted for Lewis and hugely proud of him."

Kirsty said: "As much as my remit is to come into the schools and provide input regarding to how to keep yourself safe, I'm also available to give advice to anyone considering a career in the police.

"I may be wearing a different uniform today compared to the tunic and wooden baton I was issued 28 years ago, but the same message is there that our job is to keep people safe.

"We are looking to promote the fact that we are very approachable, we're here to help you, here to give you good advice."

Kirsty added: "Following on from Lewis, we've got another young person from Notre Dame who's passed his entrance exam for the police and has got his interview coming up, so watch this space."