X Factor contestant Curtis Moore has reportedly apologised for his criminal activities.

Earlier this week pictures of Moore wilding a knife were acquired by the tabloids and a number of neighbours complained about Curtis’s thuggish and intimidating behaviour.

Curtis told The Sun: “I was an idiot. I’m sorry. I was so stupid, I was 13 and trying to be cool. The older kids carried knives so I just wanted to be like them.

“But I never carried a knife daily. I knew you could get five years. And I know people who have been stabbed.”

Curtis explained that when he lived in Redditch, he was stuck in a cycle of destructive behaviour.. He said: “I was a bad name. And I got involved in crime, robbing people. I want to apologise to everyone I’ve ever hurt.”

Moore now lives with a foster family in Walsall. He added:

“My mum wanted me to get away from Redditch. Now I just hang around doing my music at home. I hate the idea of people seeing me as this knife-wielding thug, that’s not me anymore.”