She nodded at Denise, who charged at Adele, aiming her fist at Adele’s face. But Adele was ready for her. She deflected Denise’s fist, then countered with a sharp blow. It caught Denise full on the bridge of her nose.

Before Adele could follow up the punch she caught sight of Louise stepping around her. Straight away she felt her hair being tugged sharply from behind. Then Louise’s arm was around her throat. Shazza had also closed in from the side. While Denise punched Adele around the head and torso, Shazza clawed at her face.

Adele tried her best to deflect Denise’s punches. But she couldn’t stop Shazza too, especially with Louise choking her from behind. Another sharp tug of her hair from Louise brought tears to Adele’s eyes. It forced her chin upwards, leaving her face exposed and vulnerable. And her vision was no longer at eye level.

Unable to see her attackers clearly, Adele flailed around helplessly. But it was no use. As her punches missed their target, those of her enemies landed spot on.

Adele felt each stinging blow to her face and each bruising kick in her shins. She also heard the heavy pounding of each thump. Then someone dug her sharp nails into the delicate flesh of Adele’s cheek and scored several lines down her face. Tears sprang to her eyes again.

‘Get the bitch on the floor!’ Shazza yelled.

As they tried to drag her down, Adele fought to stay upright. She knew they would inflict more damage once she was on the ground. Louise let go of Adele’s hair while she tried to press down on her shoulders. Now they were back in her line of vision. Adele aimed a few jabs at Shazza and Denise, forcing them back. Beyond them other prisoners stood watching but nobody interfered.

Then Adele spotted Caroline rushing through the door and relief surged through her.

‘Get your bloody hands off her!’ Caroline yelled, running over.

Anna and Cheryl came through the door too and were also heading in Adele’s direction. Then two prison officers appeared.

One of the other inmates spoke out when she saw the prison officers. ‘Yeah, come on, Shazza,’ said one of them. ‘I think you’ve gone too far now.’

Before Adele’s friends had chance to get involved, Shazza stepped back from Adele and stood glaring at her. ‘Come on, let’s go,’ she said to Denise and Louise, and they began walking away.

‘Not so fast!’ said Prison Officer Roberts. ‘I saw what was going on. You three aren’t going anywhere, apart from the governor’s office.’ Then the two guards led Shazza and her friends away.

‘Go and get that seen to,’ Judy Roberts said, turning round to look at Adele as she led Shazza and her friends through the door.