Mark Sancto

Mark Sancto was a loving and sociable 44-year-old White transgender man who lived in Bedford.

Mark had been depressed since he was in his twenties, but was managing his mental ill health and had secured himself a flat.

In 1985, he was arrested for minor criminal damage and, despite identifying as a man, was remanded in Holloway women’s prison. Sent to the notoriously negligent C1 psychiatric wing, medical records evidenced Mark’s mental ill health history and that he was a suicide risk. Despite this, he was placed in isolation, having little to no communication with anyone.

Mark made a suicide attempt while in the prison. However, the prison nursing staff who had found him suggested it was an attention-seeking incident and didn't inform the medical officer.

An hour later, Mark died a self-inflicted death. No attempt had been made to resuscitate him. An inquest jury ruled that Mark had died "an accidental death aggravated by lack of care".

The coroner said to the jury after the verdict: "I hope findings such as yours will act as a spur to those who control the money-bags".