Transgender woman should never have been sent to Leeds Prison says grieving partner

Vicky Thompson, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, was sent to the jail after a conviction at Bradford Crown Court but was found dead a week ago.

Her partner, Robert Steele, said she had been placed on a sex offenders wing.

“People were saying things to her because she was obviously dressing as a female,” Mr Steele told the BBC.

“She didn’t want to be there. She wanted to be in a female prison.”

Mr Steele said: “She was bright, she was a colourful person. She loved life. She liked going out. She was a happy-go-lucky person. I’m nothing without Vicky. I loved her with all my heart.”

Ms Thompson’s death comes after the case of make-up artist Tara Hudson who was placed in a male prison after an assault conviction in Bath but is understood to have moved to a female jail after a campaign by supporters.

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.

Mr Hussain described Thompson, who had not undergone gender reassignment surgery, as a vulnerable transgender person.

Tributes have been paid at the gates of the prison by members of the transgender community.

Equalities advocate Alex Kaye spoke of his frustration at Vikki’s situation.

He said: “Any woman would not be happy to be in a male prison regardless of any gender identity history.

“You don’t put a female in a male prison. You don’t put a male in a female prison. Why has this girl had to suffer this?”

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.”

West Yorkshire Police said the death was classed as not suspicious and that the coroner had been informed.

Ms Thompson was sentenced for breach of order at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday November 11 - two days before she was found dead.

It is believed she initially appeared at Bradford Crown Court earlier this year accused of robbing a 15-year-old girl of her mobile phone on March 11, 2015.

She was also accused of stealing Head & Shoulders products valued at £86 from Victoria House in Market Square, Shipley, and stealing Max Factor products worth £9.99 from a Superdrug, also in Shipley.