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Nicola Sturgeon says trans rapist will be moved from female prison

Isla Bryson - Andrew Milligan/PA
Isla Bryson - Andrew Milligan/PA

A transgender rapist is to be moved from a woman’s jail, Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

The First Minister said that Isla Bryson, who was convicted this week of raping two women, would not be in Cornton Vale women’s jail either in the “short-term or long-term”.

Bryson, 31, was taken to the women’s jail after being found guilty on Tuesday. Ms Sturgeon said that a risk assessment is currently being carried out, with Bryson currently being held in a segregated unit.

However, she confirmed that Bryson would not serve the sentence in Cornton Vale, less than 24 hours after her Justice Secretary said that ministers would not intervene.

Ms Sturgeon said that she agreed with the head of the charity Rape Crisis Scotland that she did not see “how it is possible” for a rapist to serve time in a women’s prison.

At Holyrood, she said: “In the case that has been in the media in recent days, that risk assessment is underway.

“Given the understandable public and parliamentary concern in this case, I can confirm to parliament that this prisoner will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale women’s prison.”

She added: “Let me be clear, this prisoner is not going to be incarcerated in Cornton Vale, either short-term or long-term.

“There is an importance of allowing the Scottish Prison Service to give effect, operationally, to what I have just said. These are operational matters for the Scottish Prison Service.

“I am setting out very clearly that I agree with the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland when she said ‘I dont’ see how it’s possible to have a rapist within a female prison.”

Sturgeon 'hiding behind' prison service

The First Minister later suggested the decision to move Bryson had been taken by the Scottish Prison Service, rather than her.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, accused the First Minister of “hiding behind” the Scottish Prison Service and questioned why Ms Sturgeon had not used her powers to order that Bryson was moved to a male jail sooner.

Ms Sturgeon refused to confirm that Bryson was currently being held in Cornton Vale, although it is widely known that this is the case.

Mr Ross referred to Bryson as an “absolute beast” and referred to the 31-year-old with male pronouns. He claimed rapists were “exploiting” current laws.

Bryson was previously known as Adam Graham and transitioned only after being accused of the sex attacks.

The jury in the trial, at the High Court in Glasgow, was told that Adam Graham was the defendant's "dead name" and the judge referred to the rapist as "Ms Bryson".

Women sharing prison with a 'beast'

Mr Ross said: “This rapist is in there now. He’s in segregation in a women’s prison at the moment. The reality is this double rapist, this beast, is in a women’s prison right now. We think it’s wrong that a rapist is sent to a women’s prison.

“This double rapist only decided to change gender after he was charged by police. It took the threat of jail for this criminal to decide to change his gender. That’s not a coincidence, that’s a conscious decision.”

He added: “Nicola Sturgeon has seemed to reject... that he is currently there is not a risk to women. I can’t agree with that. Will she go to Cornton Vale and personally explain to women there, who are sharing their prison with a double rapist, why on earth her government is allowing them to be in a cell next door.”