Transgender woman Vicky Thompson dies in male prison, sparks debate

VICKY THOMPSON, a transgender woman who was jailed in the all male HM prison in Leeds was found dead on Friday November 13.  Her death is now causing a pressing debate in the House of Commons.

In August, Thompson was given a jail term of 12 months which was suspended for 24 months.  It is reported that she broke the terms of her suspension and was taken back into custody.

According to friends of Thompson she had requested to be sent to a female prison and had even threatened to kill herself if sent to a male prison. 

Furthermore her solicitor, Mohammed Hussain, told us that he had informed the judge that Thompson was ‘essentially a woman.’ Hussain added that should Thompson be send to an all male prison, her jail time should at least be reduced.

Thompson´s partner, Robert Steele, told the BBC that ‘she didn´t like it in there because people were saying things to her because she was dressing as a female.’

The Prison Service released a statement saying: “HMP Leeds prisoner Vicky Thompson was found unresponsive in the evening of Friday 13 November. Staff and paramedics attempted resuscitation but she was pronounced dead at 8.48pm. As with all deaths in custody there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.”

Thompson is not the only case whereby a transgender woman was put in an all male prison. 

The plight of transgender people has recently received more attention because of the transformation of former gold medal winner Bruce Jenner into Caitlyn Jenner.