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| Transgender woman Vikki Thompson found dead at Armley jail | |
| (14 days later) | |
| A transgender woman who told her friends she would kill herself if she was sent to a male prison has been found dead in jail. | A transgender woman who told her friends she would kill herself if she was sent to a male prison has been found dead in jail. |
| Vikki Thompson, 21, was being held at Armley, Leeds, where she was pronounced dead on Friday. | |
| Friends of Thompson, who was born male but had identified as female since her mid-teens, said she had asked to be sent to a female prison. | Friends of Thompson, who was born male but had identified as female since her mid-teens, said she had asked to be sent to a female prison. |
| An investigation into her death has been launched, the Prison Service said. | An investigation into her death has been launched, the Prison Service said. |
| Thompson, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was handed a 12-month jail term in August which was suspended for 24 months. | Thompson, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was handed a 12-month jail term in August which was suspended for 24 months. |
| The BBC understands she later breached the terms of the sentence, and was remanded in custody at Bradford Crown Court. | The BBC understands she later breached the terms of the sentence, and was remanded in custody at Bradford Crown Court. |
| Her solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, said he had advised the judge she was "essentially a woman" and asked for her to be sent to New Hall women's prison, near Wakefield. | Her solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, said he had advised the judge she was "essentially a woman" and asked for her to be sent to New Hall women's prison, near Wakefield. |
| He said he also asked for any sentence to be reduced if it was decided Thompson would be sent to an all-male prison. | He said he also asked for any sentence to be reduced if it was decided Thompson would be sent to an all-male prison. |
| Mr Hussain described Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender person. | Mr Hussain described Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender person. |
| The issue of sentencing transgender prisoners was raised last month, after Tara Hudson was initially sent to an all-male prison. | The issue of sentencing transgender prisoners was raised last month, after Tara Hudson was initially sent to an all-male prison. |
| She was later transferred to a female jail after a campaign calling for her to be moved. | She was later transferred to a female jail after a campaign calling for her to be moved. |
| Alex Kaye, from SafeT, which represents transgender people, said he hoped Ms Thompson's death would bring about a change in the law. | Alex Kaye, from SafeT, which represents transgender people, said he hoped Ms Thompson's death would bring about a change in the law. |
| "Any woman would not be happy to be in a male prison regardless of any gender identity history," he said. | "Any woman would not be happy to be in a male prison regardless of any gender identity history," he said. |
| Transgender prison rules | Transgender prison rules |
| Source: The Care and Management of Transsexual Prisoners, Ministry of Justice website | Source: The Care and Management of Transsexual Prisoners, Ministry of Justice website |
| Thompson's boyfriend, Robert Steele, said he had spoken to her a day before and had booked a visit to the prison before her death. | Thompson's boyfriend, Robert Steele, said he had spoken to her a day before and had booked a visit to the prison before her death. |
| "She didn't like it in there because people were saying things to her because she was dressing as a female," he said. | "She didn't like it in there because people were saying things to her because she was dressing as a female," he said. |
| A Prison Service spokesperson said: "HMP Leeds prisoner Vikki Thompson was found unresponsive on the evening of Friday, 13 November. | |
| "Staff and paramedics attempted resuscitation but she was pronounced dead at 20:48 GMT. | "Staff and paramedics attempted resuscitation but she was pronounced dead at 20:48 GMT. |
| "As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman". | "As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman". |
| West Yorkshire Police said Thompson's death was not being treated as suspicious. | West Yorkshire Police said Thompson's death was not being treated as suspicious. |