A salon owner has revealed she was born in prison and spent the first 13 months of her life behind bars.
Ellise Denton entered the world while her mum Bernadette Cullum was serving a sentence in prison.
The 27-year-old’s earliest memories began inside the mother and baby unit.
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Bernadette, 48, had been jailed for robbery and was battling addiction to heroine and cocaine.
She found out she was pregnant when she was five months along.
Despite the unconventional start, Ellise is now a thriving salon owner and has a close relationship with her mum despite her earliest days coming from inside at Styal Prison, Cheshire.
“My relationship with mum growing up was rocky,” Ellise, from Manchester, told Need To Know.
“Mum faced her own demons with childhood trauma and substance abuse.
“It was never a normal childhood but I’m grateful I had the childhood I did as without it I don’t think I would strive for such a good life now with my own children and so much ambition.”
Bernadette ultimately served around 18 months of a three-year sentence.
Bernadatte added: “I was devastated when i found out I’d be giving birth in prison.
“I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to keep the baby.
“My waters went in the shower and Ellise was born in 54 minutes in the hospital entrance.”
Ellise admits her childhood was far from typical.
She said: “Mum speaks only fondly of our time together in prison as it meant we was able to bond.
“I think I helped her on the dark days.
“Unfortunately my dad passed away when I was four so sometimes I wish I would’ve had more time to bond with him in the 13 months I was inside.
“We are close now but in most ways I’m like the parent.
“She’s like my best friend we have a laugh together.”
Bernadette added: “Raising her alone was amazing.
“I could do it all on my own with no interference.
“Our bond was so close.
“A day in the life in prison with a newborn looked a lot similar to being on the outside.
“There were no set rules for mother and baby.
“We would get up at 6am or 7am, make breakfast then have bath time and get ready.
“Ellise would go to nursery and I’d go to education.
“At lunch, I’d take her for a walk around the grounds.
“After nursery, all the ladies would decide what to have for dinner, make joint meals, feed and bathe the kids then straight to bed.”
From the age of two, Ellise was raised primarily by her aunt and uncle, who took on parental responsibility while continuing to co-parent alongside Bernadette.
Now a successful salon owner and mum-of-three herself, Ellise says her past has fuelled her ambition rather than held her back.
She now hopes to return to the very place where her life began, not as an inmate, but as an inspiration.
Ellise added: “I don’t feel like I have turned out as well as I can yet.
“I feel like I have so much ambition to do more and I’d actually love to go back to the prison and speak with some staff and prisoners as your start in life won’t always determine where you end up.
“It can make you or break you.
“And for me it drives me so much to have and do all the things I didn’t have during childhood.
“My children are my world and thank goodness I have them all because I don’t know where I’d be without them. A
“Also I feel so proud and happy to show that people can change and every day is a new day and a new start.
“If you’re struggling, reach out to the local services.”
Bernadette added: “I’m immensely proud of my daughter for all she’s achieved and is yet to achieve.
“She’s determined to do well in life because she had a bad start.”
