Prison security officer Lorraine Barwell died from a serious head injury, a post mortem has found.

The 54-year-old ,of Harold Wood, was attacked as she prepared to escort a prisoner to a jail van at Blackfriars Crown Court on Monday last week. She died in hospital on Friday.

Post-mortem tests show the provisional cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, police have said.

Ms Barwell had worked for company Serco for more than 10 years.

Humphrey Burke, 22, of no fixed abode, appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with grievous bodily harm. He was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on July 15.

Scotland Yard, Serco and the Ministry of Justice are investigating Ms Barwell’s death.