Sex-swap ex-jailbird says NHS was right to treat her
| Posted: August 23, 2013
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A BURGLAR who had a £20,000 sex change on the NHS while in prison has defended her free treatment – and says taxpayers' money is wasted on cancer patients.
Jasmine Goode, previously a man called Darren, was serving time for a strong of burglaries when the treatment began in Leyhill open prison, South Gloucestershire.
The 37-year-old is now out of prison and told The Sun: "The NHS was generous and I have been able to get the body I always wanted.
"But it is not wrong that I was given help.
"I had gender dysphoria – a condition that made me feel like I had been born with the wrong body. The NHS wastes money helping people with cancer, often smokers, even though their condition is terminal and they are going to die, whereas I have got lots of years left.
"I am working now but it would have cost taxpayers more if the NHS had refused me.
"I would have been too depressed to work and lived off sickness benefits."
Darren Goode was jailed for 11 years for raids on the elderly, including a woman of 102.
While behind bars, Darren started wearing dresses, lipstick and make-up in preparation for a sex change. For the rest of the sentence, inmates and staff at Leyhill were told to call him Jasmine.
In the build-up to the operation, Darren was allowed out of prison to visit a consultant in London's Harley Street, accompanied by a female prison officer. Darren stayed at a hostel for transgender people in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, on home leave.
At Leyhill, Darren wore a pink cardigan over his prison uniform during the day but at 5pm changed into a skirt and trainers.
A prison source said at the time: "He is always in full make-up and nail varnish."
As Darren, of Droitwich, Worcestershire, Jasmine had a son from one relationship and two children from a marriage.
A Prison Service spokesman said: "All prisoners are entitled to the same healthcare provision as they could access in the community."
Read more: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Sex-swap-ex-jailbird-says-NHS-right-treat/story-19698657-detail/story.html#ixzz38zfSFt8R
Read more at http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Sex-swap-ex-jailbird-says-NHS-right-treat/story-19698657-detail/story.html#JQ7LMuRg8FCWKeov.99
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