The descendants of Sophia Constable, the youngest ever inmate of Northallerton prison, who was sentenced to three weeks' hard labour for stealing a loaf of bread, have officially unveiled the statue in her memory.

In October 1872 at the age of just 11, Sophia Constable was sentenced to hard labour for stealing the loaf by tricking a Whitby shopkeeper. Ironically it was her time in the House of Correction and the four years afterwards in Reform School in Doncaster that saved her from a troubled home life and wretched living conditions.

Her great-granddaughter, Louise Dudman, and half cousin, Georgia Spink, cut the ribbon on the statue, the Ballad of Sophia, which has been put up as the centrepiece of Northallerton’s Treadmills development, which was built on the site of the former prison.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Sophia's family join pupils from Northallerton's Mill Hill School cutting to unveil the Sophia

Louise said: “Sophia’s story is remarkable, she was an 11-year-old girl, living in very harsh conditions and was simply starving. She stole the bread due to extreme hunger, and for that she was punished by being sent to jail in Northallerton.

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“Our family is incredibly proud of how she managed to turn her life around following her jail sentence and her attendance at the reformatory school.

“Following her punishment, Sophia returned to Whitby, married and had children. As a result, we now have in our family the fifth generation of her descendants. We hope that Sophia’s statue is enjoyed for many years to come.”

The sculpture was made by world renowned artist, Ray Lonsdale, of Durham, who said Sophia’s story captured his attention. “Sophia’s story speaks volumes for those times," he said. "It was hard, she stole to survive, she was hungry. I try to tell a story and I hope seeing this young child clutching her twopenny loaf while the matron stands behind her is a reminder of how harsh life was then.”

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The figures, which are one and a half life size, were funded through Historic England’s cultural programme as part of the Northallerton High Street Heritage Action Zone.

Historic England’s architect for the north, Bryan Davies said: “This sculpture is a fantastic and publicly accessible reminder of the varied and fascinating history of the town. The story of Sophia really brings a complex past to life.”

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North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, Cllr Simon Myers added: “This is a wonderful addition to Northallerton, it is a very thought-provoking piece of public art by a celebrated artist, and we hope it will not only create a cultural legacy for the town but encourage visitors to our district to see Sophia.”

York singer/songwriter Maggie Wakeling performed a specially composed piece called Sophia at the unveiling.

The Treadmills scheme was built through the Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd, set up originally by Hambleton District Council and now a joint venture between North Yorkshire Council and Yorkshire developer, Wykeland Group.