A TRANSGENDER woman has been sent to an all male prison, sparking fears for her safety.

Striking Tara Hudson, 26, has lived as a female for most of her adult life and has undergone six years of gender reconstruction surgery.

Her mother condemned the move and says her daughter’s own doctor in Britain has confirmed that she is now a woman.

But magistrates sentenced Hudson to 12 weeks inside a tough all-male prison in Bristol, after she admitted assault, because her passport says she is still a man.

Distraught Jackie Brooklyn has written to the prison governor as she fears her daughter will be targeted by the male prisoners.

“There’s nothing male about her, nobody would know the difference. She looks like a woman. She’s gorgeous,” she said.

“We think it’s totally outrageous. I don’t think she will cope well at all. I just feel the men are going to go after her. It’s going to be humiliating.”

Tara, who was born Aaron, admitted assault after an incident at a bar on Boxing Day 2014.

She changed her plea to guilty in September and her mum was expecting her to be put on an electronic tag and to undergo an alcohol awareness course.

At worst she thought she would be sent to an all-women prison by the magistrates in Bath, Somerset.

Her mother said: “I just want to get my daughter into a safe, female environment where she belongs and will continue to fight the decision.”

She added that Tara received abuse for her gender status and was on a hormone replacement course as well as medication for depression.

Tara is a qualified make-up artist and wants to pursue it as a career but has been off work due to her health and a social worker has cared for her.

Her mother added: “I don’t want her going backwards with her mental health. She’s been through a hard time and this could set her right back.

“I don’t think the magistrates have taken that into consideration. I fear that it is a potentially dangerous situation for her to be in and feel strongly that she would be far safer in a female environment.

“While I understand it is a complex issue, the treatment of transgender individuals by the British judicial system is one that clearly requires greater attention and thought.

“The primary focus should be the safety and wellbeing of those involved.”

A petition calling for a sex-change woman to be moved from an all-male prison has been signed by more than 5,000 people in less than 24 hours.