LIVERPOOL-BASED writer Cathy Roberts was crowned winner of law firm Mace & Jones’s inaugural short story competition last week, at an awards evening at St George’s Hall.

Ms Roberts, a guide at the Whistlefish Gallery, saw off stiff competition from more than 90 entries from around the world to win the £1,000 first prize.

Phil Redmond, creative director at Liverpool Culture Company, handed out the award for her story, The Appointment.

Entrants tackled the theme of justice and Ms Roberts told the story of Ruth Ellis, the last British woman to be hung, through the fictional eyes of her hairdresser.

It was the first short story competition Ms Roberts, who lives on a tug boat in the Albert Dock, had entered.

She said: “I decided to write a story about Ruth Ellis after meeting Herbert the famous Liverpool hairdresser. Ruth was the victim of domestic violence, and her story was not well understood.

“Before the trial, she dyed her hair blonde and the prosecution portrayed her as this brassy blonde. It’s about how we judge people by their appearances. I’d now love to see the story turned into a play.”

Mace & Jones’s head of employment law, celebrated crime fiction author Martin Edwards, said the judging panel had been astonished by the calibre and volume of entries, but found Cathy’s story an outstanding read.

He added: “This was an extremely tough assignment.

“We had nearly 100 entries and all were of a high standard – some exceptionally so. However, Cathy’s story title stood out for its originality and insight.”