"I've promised not to cry," said 30-year-old Sharron, clutching a tissue in case she can't hold back. "Talking about my kids always makes me feel emotional."

Sharron is an inmate at Foston Hall prison in Derbyshire. She's serving a four and a half year sentence for possession with intent to supply drugs. While she's inside, her three children are in foster care.

Eleven-year-old Sam and Lee, 10, are together. Five year old Jozef lives with another family about 15 miles away.

"I miss them terribly," said Sharron. "and even though I know they're happy with the people who are looking after them, I can't help but worry.

"It's like I'm not a mother now the children aren't with me. They've stop being my kids. I don't know what they're doing and I hate that."

Sharron says she's comforted in the knowledge that her children have settled well in their new lives.

But the guilt she bears for being away from them - even more so because she's in prison - is often too much to handle.

"I feel a failure," she said. "I love them more than anything and I've let them down. I'm not a strong person. I don't think I'm coping very well in here."

Sharron has 18 months left to serve. During that time she should see her children about four or five times.

"It's not much if you think about it," said Sharron. "I'd like to see them more than that, but it lies in the hands of social services.

"I suppose I'm luckier than some - but I miss them dreadfully. I think of the boys all the time. It's hard being away from them."

This week, Sharron has been given compassionate leave to visit her family. Since she's been inside her father has died and she's just renewed contact with her mother after several years.	'I know when I leave I'll be a better person'

She'll be freed at 8am, but must return the following day at 3.30pm.

"I won't be late coming back - that's for sure," she said. "I won't have much time, but I'm planning to do as much as I can. I want to see my children, my mother and my partner. It's so important to me.

"If I stick to the rules this time then perhaps I'll be allowed to go home again. If I'm late I will be penalised. I'll get extra days added to my sentence."

This is Sharron's first offence. She was convicted after pleading guilty to being paid £50 to carry a parcel. She regrets what she did.

"I don't even use drugs," she said. "I don't know why I did it...well I do, it was for the money. I know it was wrong. Look where I am now. I'm paying the price. My kids aren't with me, what's more I've lost all parental responsibility."

Before Sharron started her sentence she was heavily overweight and addicted to alcohol.

Strict prison life means she's been forced to quit drinking and has voluntarily joined a group for alcohol addicts. Sharron has also managed to lose four stones and slim down to a size 16.

"If I wasn't in here I'd probably be dead by now," she said. "I drank so much it was killing me. Coming to prison has not only saved my life but has dramatically changed it for the better. I know when I leave I'll be a better person."

When Sharron sees her children, she always explains why she's in prison. "I tell them that I've been naughty and that's why I'm here. It's not clever to come to prison, I say.

"I want them to know that if you do something wrong this is where you come. I've learned a harsh lesson - I'll never do anything again which might mean ending up in prison. For the sake of my children, I'll know better next time."

See also

'I've lost my freedom - but worse, I've lost my children'

8,000 lose a mum to jail

Used courtesy of the Plymouth Evening Herald