A trans woman has complained of "stress" at being held in a male prison after being caught out falsely claiming to have been "kidnapped and held hostage".

Southampton Crown Court heard how convicted sex offender Sophie Louise Carter, previously known as Dominic, is in custody at HMP Winchester following a failed bid to get £140.

Prosecutor Hannah Douglas told the court that 40-year-old Carter had falsely claimed to have been “kidnapped and held hostage” in Petersfield, east Hampshire, and needed the cash to pay to be released.

When that ruse was revealed Carter was arrested by police and officers discovered the defendant had not told them about a change of address, which is required under sex offender notification requirements.

It is Carter's fourth appearance for sentencing since being spared jail in August 2023 for possession of two category A images were found three category B images and six category C. Cater was handed a six month prison sentence suspended for 18 months at the time.

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and with shoulder length brown hair on Thursday, Carter - who was referred to in court as both ‘they’ and ‘she’ - was stony-faced in the dock.

Carter, of no fixed address, admitted breaching a suspended sentence, breaching a community order by not attending probation appointments, and failing to comply with notification requirements.

Judge Nicholas Rowland told Carter “it is very depressing” she is back before the court.

“I am left with no alternative but to send you to prison”, he said.

Carter was sentenced to six months in prison.

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Mitigating, Eve Shelley said Carter commits such breaches of court orders in“chaotic” periods, and said the defendant struggles with homelessness and substance abuse.

She said: “The defendant was homeless in Portsmouth where she was assaulted.

“They then relocated to Southampton and relapsed into alcohol and drug taking.

“They are currently in HMP Winchester, and being kept in that male prison environment is causing some stress.”