Transgender woman Vicky Thompson found dead in Leeds male prison

Vicky Thompson was born male but had identified as female since her mid-teens

Thursday 19 November 2015 15:00 EST

Leeds HMP Armley (Wikipedia)

A transgender woman has been found dead in an all-male prison in Leeds.

Vicky Thompson, 21, was found unresponsive in Leeds Prison in Armley, West Yorkshire, on Friday night.

Friends of Ms 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.

She was handed a 12-month jail term in August which was suspended for 24 months.

The BBC reports she later breached the terms of the sentence and was remanded in custody at Bradford Crown Court.

Her lawyer, Mohammad Hussain, described Ms Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender woman.

An investigation into the death has been launched by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.

The Prison Service said: "HMP Leeds prisoner Vicky Thompson was found unresponsive on 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."