Husbands and fathers who have been locked up for breaking the law admit they feel guilty and ashamed of the impact their behaviour has had on their families.

The prisoners at Norwich Prison share their regrets in a new documentary for ITV which goes behind the walls of the Norfolk jail.

Of the 2,500 new prisoners who pass through its gates every year, half of them are fathers leaving their children to grow up without them, and their wives suddenly coping as single parents.

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Nick Grady, who is serving a 13-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine, hugs his wife and daughter during visiting time in HMP Norwich. Inmates who keep family ties alive are six times less likely to reoffend

Statistics reveal that a fifth of marriages will break up under the strain of one partner serving a prison sentence, yet those who manage to keep family ties alive are six times less likely to reoffend.

As a result, prisons endeavour to recognise the importance of family contact, with Norwich's visitors' centre providing support for the inmates' loved ones.

But they have to balance family contact with security - meaning everyone has to be vigorously searched, even babies.

Prison officer Darren, explains: 'Obviously it's a shame, you've got young children coming in, in little carriers.

'They are only a couple of weeks old or sometimes days old and it's something we have to do because people do secrete items on children and young babies - the nappy area is a big area.'

Governor Will Styles said they have to be strict when searching babies and young children because the drug trade in prison is 'so lucrative'.

Father of three Nick was jailed when his youngest son turned one and he regrets that visiting him in prison is all he has ever known

In the past they have found drugs smuggled inside children's cards and letters to their fathers or sewn into the clothes wives bring for their husbands.

Will said: 'We even have people who get themselves recalled into prison for the sole purpose of coming back in here and selling the whole lot of drugs in prison because there’s so much money to be made.'

Prisoner Nick Grady, who is serving a 13-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine, said being separated from his three young children and knowing they have to be searched every time they visit makes him want to change his ways once he is released.

He said: 'It's one of the hardest things about being here, the fact that my children have to get used to this.'

He is currently two years into his sentence and was arrested when his youngest son, Austin, had just turned one. Visiting his father in prison is all the little boy has known.

Liam Poore, 21, says he misses his family after being sentenced to 20 months for buying a stun-gun online

Liam's mother Lorraine, pictured visiting him in prison, said it is hard for the whole family - even the dog - having her son behind bars

Nick, who partner is standing by him, said he never expected to be serving such a long spell behind the bars for supplying drugs.

He said: 'The enormity of the sentence absolutely shocked me. You miss your family every minute of every day.

'They count it down by Christmases and birthdays to go.

'Austin has grown up in here, he took his first steps in here pretty much in the visitors' hall. It's not new to him, he's been coming since he was one.

'Having seen what my family are going through, the hardness of it. The last year and a half, two years, I've watched my little boy grow up from a weekly visit - it’s not what I want.'

Nick's children are just three of nearly a quarter of a million children in the UK estimated by charities to have a parent in prison. That's double the number affected by divorce.

Nick admits his sentence his harder on them and his partner than it is on him.

Of the 2,500 new prisoners who pass through HMP Norwich's gates every year, half of them are fathers leaving their children to grow up without them, and their wives suddenly coping as single parents

A documentary airing on ITV has gone behind the walls of the prison to meet the inmates

Viewers had mixed responses while watching the show - from sympathy for the inmates to anger

'It's more of a punishment on my family than it is on me to be honest. She's still got to pay the bills.

'She's still got to get the kids to school. She's still got to clean and clothe them. It's not an easy life,' he said.

It's more of a punishment on my family than it is on me to be honest. She's still got to pay the bills

It is a life that another young inmate, Liam Poore, 21, and his family are currently coming to terms with.

He's still reeling from the shock of being separated from his parents, brothers, and girlfriend and being sentenced to 20 months for buying a stun-gun online.

He said: 'I've put pictures on the wall to try and make myself feel a little bit more like home. Just to remind me of the people I love and miss. When you feel a bit down, it feels like they're with you.'

Before coming to prison Liam was working as a window cleaner and going to college to train as a plumber.

He said when he bought a £7 stun gun online, he had no idea it was illegal weapon.

Asked why he bought it, he said: 'Just to p*** around with my mates with. I didn't know it was a firearm. I thought if the police would have found it on me, it would have just been a slap on the wrist.'

His mother Lorraine, who now regularly visits him in prison, was also shocked.

She said of his jail sentence: 'I was just so shocked. It was just…well, bombshell. It's just really hard to see your son go away for something so stupid. And I miss him so, so much.'

Drug dealer and father of two Rocky Gamble is serving his sixth custodial sentence and said he wants to change his ways

Rocky's partner is standing by him while he is behind bars. He said: 'I can't lose her and the kids - they're my world'

She added: 'The whole family are affected, it's not just me and his girlfriend Paige, it's the whole family - even the dog.'

HMP Norwich houses more than 750 adult inmates and young offenders, ranging from seasoned criminals to those serving their first prison sentence.

Many prisoners are not new to the system - like 30-year-old father of two Rocky Gamble, who is back inside after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply heroin with an estimated street value of £200,000.

It is his sixth custodial sentence so he has been in and out of the lives of his daughter, aged ten, and son, seven,

Despite issues with discipline inside the prison, he says he has changed and no longer wants to live a life a crime because of the impact on his family.

Under his current sentence he may have to serve another 12 years but his partner has said she will wait for him.

He said: 'Sometimes I sit and wonder why she does wait for me, she's a good girl. F*** me, I'm going to have sort myself out. I can't lose her and the kids - they're my world, do you know what I mean?'

However, not everyone was sympathetic when the documentary aired last night.

Viewers took to Twitter to air their opinions - from sympathy for the inmates, to anger over how easy they seemingly have it.

Macc tweeted: 'Being on "basic" means no TV & locked up for 22 hours. All prisoners should be on that.'

Chelsie Brown wrote: 'It makes me sick how easy British inmates have it!'

hile fluffbrainz: 'God you wouldn't want to reoffend in my prison what is this country coming to where do all the idiots come from.'

Sub Kay added: 'One chap especially got a long sentence for nothing almost, crazy justice.'