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Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Holloway Prison last night (Monday) to hold a candlelight vigil for a mother who was found dead in her jail cell last month.

Sarah Reed, 32, who was said to be suffering from "severe mental health issues" was found dead by prison guards on January 11.

An investigation into the death is under way, with her family and campaigners alleging a series of failings by the justice system in the run-up to her death, particularly the decision by magistrates to send a mentally ill women to Holloway Prison on remand.

Ms Reed was buried at a private funeral in south-east London yesterday afternoon.

Hours later a large crowd had gathered outside the jail, with many adopting the chant "Black Lives Matter" – the rallying cry which originates in the African-American struggle against state violence towards black people that has come to the centre of US politics in recent years.

Patricia Lamour, of Islington-based campaign group Blak Sox, told the crowd: "We are here because this morning we laid Sarah Reed to rest. She could have been our sister or daughter. We are to demand truth and justice.

"We know that she lost a young baby. Other mothers lost a baby and are alive to tell the tale. Not Sarah Reed.

"She suffered from mental illnesses. Others in our community got medication and treatment that they needed and they are still alive. Not Sarah Reed.

"We know that she was arrested after she fought off an attacker in a secure mental health unit. We know of other sisters who have had to fight off sexual violence and are still alive. Not Sarah Reed.”

She added: "Now she is dead and we are gathered together here to share the sorrow and pain of her family. We are here to prevent another Sarah from happening again. This can only happen if we say 'enough is enough'."

Ms Reed was on remand at Holloway Prison awaiting trial on the charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm when she died on January 11. Her family say she was fighting off a sexual assault in the secure mental health unit she was in.

She had been remanded into custody by Camberwell Green Magistrates and appeared at Inner London Crown Court on January 4. Her family told Mr Jasper that she received no treatment for her mental health while at Holloway.

Ms Reed was the previously focus of media attention after former police constable James Kiddie was caught on CCTV in November 2012 dragging her to the ground and repeatedly punching her in the head. After being reported by colleagues alarmed by the level of violence used, Kiddie was handed a criminal conviction for assault and kicked out of the Met Police in 2014.