Transgender inmate found 'hanged' at HMP Doncaster, inquest hears

Jenny Swift was being held on remand after she was charged with attempted murder

A transgender woman being held at a male prison while on remand died after being found "suspended by a ligature", an inquest has heard.

Jenny Swift, 49, was found unresponsive in her cell at HMP Doncaster at about 00.40 GMT on 30 December.

Prison officers attempted to resuscitate Ms Swift but she was pronounced dead at 01.10, Doncaster Coroner's Court heard.

Ms Swift, from Merseyside, was being held on a charge of attempted murder.

The inquest into her death was opened and adjourned to 6 June.

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Ms Swift, from Seaforth in Sefton, was charged with attempted murder and a further count of criminal damage after an assault on Surrey Street in Balby, Doncaster, on 15 November.

Eric Flanagan, 26, was found with multiple stab wounds and died a month later.

Police were in the process of consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to a possible change to the attempted murder charge.

An inquest into Mr Flanagan's death was also opened at Doncaster Coroner's Court and adjourned until 3 July.

Ms Swift had been taking non-prescription hormone drugs to help her transition to a woman but the medication was stopped when she entered custody, the BBC understands.

HMP Doncaster is a category B prison with more than 900 inmates and has been operated by Serco since 2003.