Davina Ayrton (pictured, outside court last year) was jailed for eight years in 2016 for raping a 15-year-old girl, while she was known as David

Half of transgender prisoners could be sex offenders with predator inmates 'falsely' defining their gender in a bid to get access to vulnerable women, a charity has warned.

Under new government proposals adults will soon be able to choose their sex legally, without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

Experts are concerned this will lead to a spike in the number of trans inmates transferring to female prisons, which could put others in a danger.

The British Psychological Society has also warned that some men convicted of sex crimes have 'falsely claimed' to be trans in an effort to 'seek better access to females and young children through presenting in a female way', reports the Sunday Times.

Between a third and a half (41 per cent) of all England and Wales trans prisoners are sex offenders, according to charity Fair Play for Women.

Recent high profile cases include Davina Ayrton who was jailed for eight years in 2016 for raping a 15-year-old girl, while she was known as David.

But while experts are concerned about the safety of other inmates, there is growing public pressure for trans inmates to be allowed to serve their time in female prisons.

Campaigners for the trans community say that placing such inmates in male jails is putting their lives at risk and may even lead to suicide.

Five trans inmates in male jails have killed themselves in the past two years.

Tara Hudson, who was born Raymond Aaron David, was jailed for 12 weeks after admitting headbutting a bar manager in December 2014.

Tara Hudson, who was born Raymond Aaron David, was jailed for 12 weeks after admitting headbutting a bar manager in December 2014

Miss Hudson started hormone replacement therapy when she was 17, but because she was born as a man, she was sent to male prison HMP Bristol.

After a public campaign, started by her mother, she was finally transferred to a female jail.

But the ordeal in HMP Bristol, drove her to contemplating suicide.

Speaking after her release in 2015, she said: 'When I walked into the prison, it was like a cat with five legs had entered the building. They were like animals in a zoo - shouting and banging on the doors.

'It was intense, aggressive and extremely uncomfortable.

'After that, they would call me 'chick with a d***', 'trannie', 'shim' (she/him) or 'hybrid' and shout that the Lady Boys of Bangkok were in town. I even heard one say, 'It should be shot'.

'It was very depressing, and I even felt suicidal at points.'

Miss Hudson said the ordeal at male prison HMP Bristol left her contemplating suicide

Eight men's jails specifically house sex offenders with 46 trans prisoners in these alone.

However, a large number of men convicted of sex crimes are housed outside of these special facilities - so the number could be higher.

Based on a report of 118 prisons in England and Wales, charity Fair Play for women estimated male to female trans inmates is about 100.

But just 13 of these inmates have been transferred to women's prisons.

Nicola Williams, from Fair Play to Women, said that the reforms to help transgender people choose their legal sex could have serious repercussions for prisoners.

She told the Sunday Times: 'Trans-identifying males will become eligible for transfer to women's prisons, representing a serious risk to the safety and privacy and dignity of women in prisons.

'There is a conflict here between transgender right and the right of other people such as women.

'What is shocking is that we are rushing into this [self-declaration] without evidence of its impact.'