Claire was 27 when she was sentenced to 18 months. She wrote this when she was half-way through her sentence. At the time, she had two daughters, aged 7 and 10. Before going to prison she had limited contact with her children's father and was bringing them up on her own.

“Night-time is definitely the worst.  During the day you can keep busy and have people to talk to, but at night I just lie there and think about my girls.  I think about what if they have a nightmare or feel ill. It’s my job to look after them but I can’t because I am not there.

They are living with my Mum which is good because I know that they are with someone who loves them, but I actually get jealous of my own Mum because she’s the one who is with them all the time, when I see her take them away at the end of a visit all I can think about is what they will be doing next, driving home, having their tea, doing homework, watching TV, having a bath and going to bed.

I’m missing out on things in their lives that will only happen once. I don’t feel that I’m part of their lives at the moment and when I get out things will not be the same as before.

I am scared that when I go home they will be confused about who is their Mum, I get worried that they will not want to talk to me about things that matter. It is not their fault it is mine.

I also feel guilty that they’re suffering because of what I have done.  My Mum told the school and our doctor that I was in prison, but sometimes I wish that she had not because I do not want people to look down on them because of what I have done.  They will always be the ‘kids who have a Mum inside’ and that is not fair on them.

I don’t care what people think about me, I’m not innocent – but my girls are and I don't want people to treat them any differently”.

All names have been changed.