Sometimes hope comes in the form of a muffin.

The prisoners undertaking the baking course at Otago Corrections Facility were unaware their instructor Sally Scott had entered them in the Tokomairiro A&P Show.

The judges at the show had no idea either.

To protect the prisoners' identities, Ms Scott named the entrants after her favourite band - Guns N Roses.

The anonymity of ''Slash'', ''Axl'' and ''Duff'' among the entrants did not seem to affect the judge's decisions.

Ms Scott's students won first and second places in the fruit muffin category and a creditable third in the gingernut biscuit discipline.

''Gingernuts are quite hard biscuits to make,'' she said.

Ms Scott said when she revealed the triumph to the inmates, their joy was clear.

''They were just blown away,'' she said. ''The sense of pride came over their faces.''

The 16-week baking course, which has run for more than two years in the prison, focuses on biscuits, slices and cakes.

Only five prisoners could participate at any one time and popularity had spread quickly, Ms Scott said.

''There are so many prisoners that want to do it now. Once they saw the first class and saw what they were going to get taught and what they were going to eat as well, they were all: 'Can I join the next class?''' she said.

She had seen prisoners change dramatically while on the course and ''Slash'' was a ''perfect example''.

''His personality has changed, he's willing to learn, he communicates with you,'' she said.

Slash, while reluctant to reveal the recipe for his award-winning raspberry and white chocolate muffins, was candid about his personal development.

''When I came here I was quite guarded, self-conscious ... did not have more than a two-sentence conversation with officers,'' he said.

''It's changed my whole sentence completely, really. I've gone from knowing nothing ... to coming to a kitchen and learning heaps of new skills.''

A certificate recognising his culinary talents was one thing, but Slash said, more significantly, he had found hope.

''I've been in jail a long time but I've really actually got some good skills ... I can pretty much do anything in the kitchen,'' he said.

''It's changed my life; no doubt about it.''

rob.kidd@odt.co.nz