A transgender prisoner charged with raping a woman was remanded to a female prison where she indecently assaulted four inmates, a court heard.

Karen White, 52, was sent to the jail despite the fact that she was a convicted sex offender and paedophile.

All her previous offences had been committed when she was a man – and White had not had gender reassignment surgery when she went to women-only New Hall Prison near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where the sex assaults took place.

Karen White (pictured), 51, confessed to two counts of sexual touching during her time in jail

The case could lead to a review of the rules for dealing with transgender inmates in the prison system.

Yesterday White pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court to the historic rape of a woman in August 2003, when she was then called Stephen Wood.

Last month she also pleaded guilty at the same court to two counts of raping another woman between February and December 2016.

It was for these rape offences that White was remanded in custody to New Hall Prison.

And while locked up there she took advantage of living alongside women inmates to carry out further sex attacks.

White had not had gender reassignment surgery when she went to women-only New Hall Prison (pictured) near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where the sex assaults took place

White admitted sex assaults on two inmates and denied sexually assaulting two others. All the incidents took place between September and November last year.

How many transgender prisoners are there in England and Wales? The latest figures showed there were 125 transgender prisoners in England and Wales up to the end of March 2017, an increase from 70 a year earlier. About 25 are thought to be in women's jails. At least 34 male-born inmates are living as women in four specialist sex offender jails for men, according to Freedom of Information Act requests. But prison governors say many have sought to be transferred to women's jails. Advertisement

She was transferred to HM Prison Leeds, a category B men's prison, after the jail attacks.

The sex assault offences she denied have been left to lie on file, as have a further rape allegation against the 2016 victim and a charge of controlling behaviour against her.

White had been living as a man called David Thompson before she began to identify as a woman.

She became Karen White and lived near Mytholmroyd in West Yorkshire. She was in transition when she committed the latest rape.

White is also awaiting sentence for stabbing a neighbour. Yesterday she appeared in the dock with her auburn hair in a ponytail, wearing glasses and walking with a stick.

Judge Christopher Batty adjourned sentencing until October 11 for the preparation of reports and to obtain victim personal statements.

While locked up at New Hall Prison, she took advantage of living alongside women inmates to carry out further sex attacks

'I'm going to have you assessed to see whether you are a danger,' he told her.

When White appeared before a district judge at Leeds Magistrates' Court in July, she claimed she had not sexually assaulted the female inmates because she is not attracted to women and suffers from erectile dysfunction.

Prosecutor Charlotte Dangerfield told the court the first assault in September happened when White stood close to another inmate, touched her arm and exposed herself.

For the second assault she made 'inappropriate comments about oral sex' and put the woman's hand on the 'defendant's left breast' so she could feel her padded bra.

Miss Dangerfield said the third alleged assault involved White pushing herself indecently against another prisoner, and on the fourth incident she allegedly kissed an inmate on the neck.

White pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court (pictured) to the historic rape of a woman in 2003

The court heard White was convicted in 2001 for two offences of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child and was jailed for 18 months.

She began identifying as a woman in 2014, but friends told the Sun she was not diagnosed with gender dysphoria - and was a drag artist, rather than transgender.

It was also claimed she has an ex-wife and son, and was helped by a transgender group in Manchester before being referred to a gender identity clinic in Sheffield.

A spokesman for the Prison Service 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.'