Transgender woman convicted of rape will not be held in all-female prison, Sturgeon says
A transgender woman convicted of rape carried out while she was a man will not be imprisoned in the all-female Cornton Vale prison in Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Isla Bryson is being removed from the prison today and will serve her sentence in a jail with male inmates, Sky News understands.
The 31-year-old was this week found guilty of raping two women while she identified as a man following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
There had been concerns over her detention in Cornton Vale women’s prison in Stirling while she awaits sentencing.
A senior source told Sky News Bryson is being removed “imminently” and will serve the rest of her time behind bars in a male prison wing.
Isla Bryson was this week found guilty of raping two women while she identified as a man
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon confirmed a risk assessment is being carried out by the Scottish Prison Service, as she stressed Bryson would not be held at Cornton Vale.
She said: “It would not be appropriate for me in respect of any prisoner to give details of where they are being incarcerated.
“But 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.
“I hope that provides assurance to the public.”
Bryson ‘preyed’ on vulnerable women
Bryson attacked the victims before she transitioned and when she was known as Adam Graham.
The trial heard Bryson raped one woman in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, in 2016, and another in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019.
Bryson met both her victims online, with prosecutors saying she “preyed” on vulnerable women.
She denied the charges, telling the court she “would never hurt another human being”.
However, a jury found her guilty of both rape charges.
Isla Bryson’s police mugshot
Ms Sturgeon’s comments come after Downing Street also expressed concerns about the safety of other inmates at Cornton Vale.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said yesterday: “This is a case in which the courts are yet to hand down a sentence so I’m not going to give anything on the specifics.
“I’ve seen the reporting and understand the concerns.”
Asked about the general policy, he said: “The UK has a policy which sees the prison service in England and Wales manage transgender prisoners on a case-by-case basis and transgender women must go through a robust risk assessment which factor in their offending history and anatomy before they can be moved to a women’s prison.”
‘Dangerous rapist should not be in a women’s prison’
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper also criticised the decision to hold Bryson in a women’s prison.
“This dangerous rapist should not be in a women’s prison and it should be clear that if someone poses a danger to women and committed crimes against women, they should not be being housed in a women’s prison. That is straightforward and I think most people would agree with that,” she told the BBC’s Today programme.
Fiona Cruickshanks, head of operations and protection at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said if an individual prisoner poses a particular risk, they can be removed and separated from other inmates.
“If we think that an individual poses particular risks, or if there is a particular risk to them, then we have the opportunity to remove them from mainstream and keep them separated until such times as our decision is made on how we best manage that risk,” she told the BBC’s Reporting Scotland.
“Any transgender person who is admitted into custody is admitted into the establishment that matches their identified gender that they were living in within the community.”
Bryson is taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment
Estranged wife: Bryson’s decision to change gender a sham
During her trial, Bryson told jurors she knew she was transgender at the age of four but did not make the decision to transition until she was 29. She is taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment.
Her estranged wife, Shonna Graham, 31, claimed Bryson’s decision to change gender was a “sham”.
Ms Graham said she has a “lot of sympathy” for transgender people, but that her former partner is attempting to fool the authorities.
She told the Daily Mail: “Never once did he say anything to me about feeling he was in the wrong body or anything.
“I have a lot of sympathy for real transgender people, it’s a hard thing to live with, but he’s just b*********** the authorities.”
Ms Graham said she had been attempting to seek a divorce for the last seven years, but had been unable to find Bryson.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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