Robert Steele
Vicky Thompson reportedly threatened suicide if she was sent to a men's prison
A transgender woman, who threatened to commit suicide if she was sent to a men's prison, has been found dead at an all-male prison in Armley, Leeds. Friends of 21-year-old Vicky Thompson(above, right), who identified as female since her teens, said the young woman had asked to be sent to a female prison.
Solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, said that he had advised the judge that Thompson was "essentially a woman" and requested that she be sent to New Hall women's prison, near Wakefield. He also said that he had asked for Thompson's sentence to be reduced if it was decided that she would be held at a men's prison.
The Prison Service said an investigation into Thompson's death has been launched.
According to the BBC, she was handed a 12-month jail term in August, which was suspended for 24 months. However, the network added that they "understand she later breached the terms of the sentence, and was remanded in custody at Bradford Crown Court".
The issue of sentencing transgender prisoners was highlighted last month by Tara Hudson, who was moved from a men's prison after a campaign was launched.
Alex Kaye from SafeT, an organisation which represents transgender people, said: "Any woman would not be happy to be in a male prison regardless of any gender identity history." The organisation hopes Thompson's tragic death will bring about a change in the law.
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