A TEENAGER who suffers from dyslexia and ADHD and was told to become a bouncer by a school careers officer has opened his own barbers in Halesowen.

Joe Howard, of Charles Road, Halesowen, refused to give up on his dream of becoming a hairdresser.

The 18-year-old opened Joey Howards Market Street Barbers in the Plaza Mall on Thursday (March 28).

His mum Jakki Pollard, who helped finance the venture, said Joe had been “talked down his whole life” and was even told by a Job Centre worker to apply for bar work because his writing was bad on an application form.

She said: “Joe’s careers officer told him to think about becoming a doorman.

“He has had a really tough time of it - he hated school and dragged himself through it the best he could.

“I just wanted to let other parents who have children struggling through school if they believe in what they want to do they will go on and achieve.

“Jo is determined, he knows what he wants to do and with a little bit of help from us he is getting somewhere.

“We are so proud of him.”

Joe trained to be a barber at Halesowen College after leaving Windsor High.