A TikTok user and former prisoner has revealed what life was like in prison during the pandemic, including claims she was locked in her cell for 23 hours a day with no visits from family or friends.

Rhe from Coventry, was sent to HMP Eastwood Park prison in July 2020 and spent 11 months behind bars after she was arrested for supplying Class A drugs.

Since returning to normal life, the 26-year-old has shared what her experience was like and what really goes on behind locked doors, as well as debunked common myths around prison life.

Rhe claims inmates were kept in their cells for 23 hours a day, weren’t allowed access to the gym and were banned from socialising with others during lockdown as part of the prison’s Covid-19 regime.

"...you're locked in your cell for 23 hours in the day, no visits, no association time, gym," Rhe says in one of her videos.

"Some people say 'but you're in prison' – it's not good for anyone's mental health to be locked in a 6 x 9 prison cell."

Most inmates could order items on a £20-a-week budget from the canteen for items including chocolate bars, fizzy drinks and toiletries.

Even though fights happened, the former prisoner says they were not as frequent and large-scale as those often seen in movies.

Inmate relationships and sexual relations – as seen in TV shows like Orange is the New Black – are however reportedly common between the women – including among some who are "straight" and married to men on the outside.

Rhee claims that prisoners don't sleep with prison guards, although rumours of this taking place allegedly often float around.

Maintaining relationships on the inside can be difficult, as Rhee herself knows as she was dating her current girlfriend, Michelle, while in prison.

In a candid TikTok video, the couple discuss the obstacles they faced in their relationship during the 11 months they spent apart.

Michelle says it added "stress" in their relationship, as she couldn't speak to Rhe about sensitive things because there was always someone listening to their conversation.

Rhe said: "I'd say me being in prison did cause a bit of stress in the relationship, it wasn't easy.

"From my point of view you'd get stressed out about stupid things inside there and then you'd end up taking it on the outside, the people closest to you, it wasn't easy was it?

"But we made it, we made it!"

Rhe already has 21,600 followers on TikTok, where she answers questions from fans on life in a women's prison and people have been left stunned by the revelations.

"No stop 23hours I'd have a panic attack," one user wrote. [sic]

"Just found your channel and found it so interesting! Thank you for the transparency," another user added.

"Thank you for taking time to share your experiences. Hope life only gets better now you're out," someone else said.

"Good luck and everyone deserves a second chance," wrote a fourth person.

"Nothing wrong with educating us about what goes on like you say a lot of people think it's like TV shows," another user wrote.

Rhe has been left shocked by the reactions to her videos.

“The reactions from my videos were bigger than I expected," she told Jam Press.

“There are a few negative comments as expected but I have had a lot of positive comments from people.

“I think people are most shocked about the fact that inmates were locked in the cells for so long due to Covid-19 and the fact people who commit petty crime are sharing with murders and paedophiles.

“I have only been out of prison for three weeks so far, so I am just enjoying my freedom spending my time with my partner and family and trying to get back to a normal life.”

Jam Press has contacted HMP Eastwood Park for comment.