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| Transgender rapist moved to women's prison after sex change | Transgender rapist moved to women's prison after sex change |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A rapist has been moved to a women-only prison after having gender reassignment surgery. | |
| Jessica Winfield, formerly known as Martin Ponting, was relocated to HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey. | Jessica Winfield, formerly known as Martin Ponting, was relocated to HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey. |
| The convicted rapist was previously held at top security Whitemoor prison in Cambridgeshire, where she was serving a life sentence. | The convicted rapist was previously held at top security Whitemoor prison in Cambridgeshire, where she was serving a life sentence. |
| Before her gender reassignment, Winfield complained of being victimised for being a transsexual. | |
| Ten years ago, she wrote to prisoners' newspaper Inside Time to say she was given a "hard time because of my sexuality, possibly through lack of understanding and empathy". | Ten years ago, she wrote to prisoners' newspaper Inside Time to say she was given a "hard time because of my sexuality, possibly through lack of understanding and empathy". |
| At the time she wrote: "I have changed my name to that of a female to prove to the authorities and everyone concerned that I am very serious about my gender and that I do not feel right being a man." | At the time she wrote: "I have changed my name to that of a female to prove to the authorities and everyone concerned that I am very serious about my gender and that I do not feel right being a man." |
| But one of Ponting's victims has described the fact her attacker was allowed a sex change as "diabolical". | |
| She told the Sun newspaper: "There are not enough words to describe him and the evil he has done. | She told the Sun newspaper: "There are not enough words to describe him and the evil he has done. |
| "It is diabolical they have allowed him to have a sex change and diabolical that he could be freed this year. | "It is diabolical they have allowed him to have a sex change and diabolical that he could be freed this year. |
| "He may have changed physically but his brain is still the same." | "He may have changed physically but his brain is still the same." |
| The Prison Service has said it does not comment on individuals. | The Prison Service has said it does not comment on individuals. |
| Campaign group Voice4Victims said the case "highlights the great imbalance of equality within our justice system". | Campaign group Voice4Victims said the case "highlights the great imbalance of equality within our justice system". |
| Writing on Twitter, the group said: "Rapist has sex change op funded by NHS whilst victims struggle to access treatment support and recovery." | Writing on Twitter, the group said: "Rapist has sex change op funded by NHS whilst victims struggle to access treatment support and recovery." |
| This is not the first time a transgender inmate has moved from a male to a female prison. Prisoners are placed according to their gender as recognised by UK law - usually stated on a birth certificate. | This is not the first time a transgender inmate has moved from a male to a female prison. Prisoners are placed according to their gender as recognised by UK law - usually stated on a birth certificate. |
| If the prisoner has a "gender recognition certificate", the Prison Service is legally required to move them to the prison of their gender. | If the prisoner has a "gender recognition certificate", the Prison Service is legally required to move them to the prison of their gender. |
| In November of last year, the government announced it would re-examine its policy on transgender prisoners following the death of Vikki Thompson, who was an inmate in a male prison in Leeds. | In November of last year, the government announced it would re-examine its policy on transgender prisoners following the death of Vikki Thompson, who was an inmate in a male prison in Leeds. |
| Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning |
| In January, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommended that where a transgender prisoner is sent should be based on an individual assessment of their needs and the possibility of them being with their acquired gender. | In January, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman recommended that where a transgender prisoner is sent should be based on an individual assessment of their needs and the possibility of them being with their acquired gender. |
| John Pilley, also known as Jane Anne, made legal history in 1999 when he became the first inmate in England and Wales to be granted permission for a sex change operation. | John Pilley, also known as Jane Anne, made legal history in 1999 when he became the first inmate in England and Wales to be granted permission for a sex change operation. |
| Pilley was serving life for the attempted murder and kidnapping of a woman taxi driver. It was later reported he decided to become a man again and was waiting to have his second operation on the NHS. | Pilley was serving life for the attempted murder and kidnapping of a woman taxi driver. It was later reported he decided to become a man again and was waiting to have his second operation on the NHS. |
| About 80 transgender people are believed to be in prison in England and Wales. | About 80 transgender people are believed to be in prison in England and Wales. |