Jon left school at 16 feeling lost and unsure of his future. He got caught up with the wrong crowd and at 18, he was sentenced to six and a half years in a young offenders’ institute. During his time in custody, with support, he transformed his mindset and discovered cooking through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He became the first person in custody to achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold, receiving his Gold Award at Buckingham Palace from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh just two weeks before his release.
Whilst in the institute, Jon discovered his love of cooking and after gaining professional cookery qualifications, Jon joined Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Group, where his passion for cooking truly ignited. He spent five years honing his skills, often working unpaid shifts in top restaurants on his days off, to learn as much as possible.
In 2015, Jon went self-employed, launching his food truck Jon’s Streat Food in St Albans. This led to opportunities including cooking for celebrities, national advertising campaigns, large catering jobs , and a contract cooking in the X Factor house in 2016.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 and work disappeared, Jon adapted by sharing recipes online, quickly building a large following. With growing media attention, Jon began speaking in schools, prisons and businesses, sharing his story to inspire others. He has featured multiple times as a guest chef on ITV’s This Morning and appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen.
Jon released his debut cookbook Watts Cooking in October 2023 and following its success, he signed with Bloomsbury Publishing. His second book, Speedy Weeknight Meals, was published in August 2024 and became a Sunday Times bestseller.
In August 2025, his third cookbook, Speedy Comfort, was released and also became an instant Sunday Times bestseller.
Jon regularly returns to prisons to teach cooking and deliver motivational talks. In 2025, he became a trustee of Liberty Kitchen, a charity helping prisoners gain skills and helping to bridge the gap between prison and employment. He has also mentored aspiring chefs, including working with an apprentice through Hertfordshire Probation Service.
Jon's Website
