The Daily Telegraph

Trans female raped women while she was living as a man

Attacker transition­ed after her first court appearance and faces a lengthy jail term in a women’s prison

- By Daniel Sanderson Scottish correspond­ent

A TRANSGENDE­R rapist who was convicted of launching sex attacks on two vulnerable women was last night set to be sent to await sentencing in a female jail.

Isla Bryson, who was previously known as Adam Graham, was yesterday convicted of two counts of rape at the High Court in Glasgow, committed while still living as a man.

The jury had been told that Bryson’s “dead name” was Adam Graham and that while the 31-year-old claimed to have known they were trans at age four, they only transition­ed after being accused of the second rape.

The Daily Telegraph understand­s that despite the conviction­s, Bryson, who was remanded in custody, was yesterday set to be sent to HMP Cornton Vale, a women’s prison in Stirling.

Under Scottish Prison Service policy, individual risk assessment­s are carried out to decide where transgende­r inmates will be sent.

The move to house a male-bodied rapist in a female jail sparked an immediate backlash from women’s rights campaigner­s, who branded it “mad”.

The verdict was delivered just weeks after Holyrood passed legislatio­n that would have made it significan­tly easier for Scots to change legal sex, only for it to be blocked by UK ministers in part due to fears it would place women in danger. During deliberati­ons over the Bill, MSPS voted down amendments designed to stop male sex offenders, or those accused of sexual offences, legally becoming women.

The judge, Lord Scott, warned Bryson a significan­t custodial sentence was inevitable. Supporters of the legislatio­n branded the attempts to add safeguards transphobi­c “dog whistles” as they suggested trans people were a danger to women.

“The fact that sending a convicted rapist to a women’s jail would even be considered shows how mad this has all become,” said Susan Smith, a director with the For Women Scotland campaign group.

“Only last month, the Scottish Government refused to entertain the possibilit­y of refusing to allow men accused of rape attempting to seek a Gender Recognitio­n Certificat­e (GRC).

“This case indicates that predatory and abusive men will stop at nothing to manipulate courts and torture victims. Had this man been able to acquire a

‘The fact that sending a convicted rapist to a women’s jail is even being considered is just mad’

GRC, there would have been greater protection­s around the identity of the accused. We can only be grateful that some politician­s still value women’s safety and dignity.”

Bryson had attacked the first victim at a flat in Clydebank, West Dunbartons­hire, with the pair having met on the Badoo dating site.

The rape occurred on Sept 16 2016 after Bryson locked the door and got into bed beside her.

In pre-recorded testimony played to jurors, the victim said: “I thought Adam had come for a cuddle and – at that moment – everything felt weird and wrong. I did not know what was going on.” The second woman was raped at a flat in Drumchapel, Glasgow, on June 27 2019. Bryson told jurors of supposed “sexuality issues” shared with the 34-year-old, having met on the social media site Bigo.

Bryson will be sentenced on Feb 28.

 ?? ?? Isla Bryson, pictured arriving at court, was told by the judge to expect a ‘significan­t custodial sentence’ after being convicted of rape
Isla Bryson, pictured arriving at court, was told by the judge to expect a ‘significan­t custodial sentence’ after being convicted of rape

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