The prison service has apologised after a transgender inmate, charged with raping a woman, sexually assaulted four fellow inmates just days after being remanded into an all female jail.
Convicted paedophile Karen White, who was born Stephen Wood, was undergoing gender reassignment, but had not undergone full surgery, when she was accused of repeatedly raping a woman in 2016.
The 52-year-old, who had been previously been jailed in 2001 for a sex attack on a child, told the authorities she identified as a woman and was remanded into HMP New Hall near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
But within days of arriving at the women-only prison in September last year, White made a sexual advance to another inmate, while in an aroused state.
A fortnight later, White approached another female inmate and struck up a conversation in which she made comments about oral sex.
She then took hold of the woman’s hand and forced it onto her left breast in order to feel her padded bra.
Just days later she was accused of pushing her hips and penis against another prisoner and in November last year she allegedly kissed a female inmate on the neck.
She was transferred into HMP Armley, an all-male prison in Leeds, when the inmates came forward to report the attacks.
Under the current rules a prisoner must be placed into a jail in accordance with their legally recognised gender.
If an inmate identifies as their non-legally recognised gender, a local Transgender Case Board will meet to assess, but must take account of the previous offending history.
However, that did not take place in this case.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: “We apologise sincerely for the mistakes which were made in this case.
“While we work to manage all prisoners, including those who are transgender, sensitively and in line with the law, we are clear that the safety of all prisoners must be our absolute priority.”
Appearing at Leeds Crown Court last month, White pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in relation to the 2016 attack and also admitted indecently assaulting two New Hall prisoners.
She denied two of the prison assaults and the cases were ordered to lay on file.
Details of the offences can only be revealed for the first time today, after White appeared in court to admit a historic rape dating back to 2003.
With her auburn hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing a grey jumper, White appeared in the dock, supported by a walking stick.
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SOURCE: The Telegraph – Martin Evans, Kate McCann, & Olivia Rudgard
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