Pank Sethi is a photographer. He was jailed for three and a half years for being concerned in the supply of drugs in 2017

“I refuse to leave here anything less than I was when I came in” was the very first statement I made and my response to an officer stating, “Don’t worry…you all break in the end.”

This became my daily mantra.

Although I never hid my sexuality, my HIV status was another matter. It is the most personal thing that I can tell anyone about myself, so when an officer asked loudly enough for everyone to hear “how long have you been HIV+?” I wished the ground would swallow me up.

Everything changed; prisoners kept their distance; there were whispers and snide comments. It was times like these that made being in prison tough and lonely.

It was made lonelier every time I had a visit from family. To see my mother and father look terrified each time made me realise what I had subjected them to through my own irresponsible actions was something I would always be ashamed of. When they walked away, my heart broke. Outwardly I never gave reason to suspect I was anything other than OK, but the truth was I wanted to scream after them not to leave me behind.

I was only at HMP Thameside for two months before being transferred to HMP Isis. Here I came in to my own. I taught English and Maths GCSE, was a reading mentor and an induction mentor. I was respected by inmates, officers and governors for my politeness, fairness, nurturing and supportive outlook; and time flew by.

Then I was informed that there had been talk on other wings and threats of violence towards me because I was HIV+ and working in the kitchens at the weekend handling food.