Ted star Mark Wahlberg says he is ‘deeply sorry for his actions’

Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg, best known for his roles in Boogie Nights, Transformers and Ted, hasn’t always been the charming, good humoured guy we all know and love.

The 43-year-old former rapper, who was known as Marky Mark, went down the wrong road as a teenager and found himself behind bars for 45 days for attacking a man with a wooden stick. The incident which happened outside a convenience store in Boston ultimately left the victim blind in one eye. The actor was trying to rob alcohol at the time 

Wahlberg, who had reportedly been drinking and taking drugs, racially abused the Vietnamese shopkeeper before punching another man in the face while he tried to get away from the police. 

The father-of-four was sixteen when the crime took place in 1988 and he is now seeking a pardon as he hopes to have his criminal record erased so that he can work with law enforcement in a bid to help vulnerable or at-risk children.

Discussing the shocking event, Mark said: “I am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8, 1988, as well as for any lasting damage that I may have caused the victims."

He then goes on to explain why he feels he deserves a pardon, saying: "My hope is that, if I receive a pardon, troubled youths will see this as an inspiration and motivation that they too can turn their lives around.”

Mark has told the Massachusetts Board of Pardons that he is focused on becoming a better person and citizen.