Angry activists have slammed the ‘disgusting’ decision to send a transgender rapist to an all-female prison

Angry activists have criticized the “disgusting” decision to send a transgender rapist who assaulted two women while living as a man to an all-women’s prison.

Isla Bryson was a shaved Adam Graham with a Mike Tyson-style facial tattoo when he carried out the violent sex attacks in 2016 and 2019 after meeting victims online.

Bryson, who claimed to have had sex problems since he was four, began transitioning from a man to a woman in 2020 after being accused of the rapes. The rapist took hormones but did not undergo surgery.

The attacker denied the allegations and told jurors sex was consensual – although Bryson insisted he took no pleasure in sleeping with women and told the court they had made the “first move”.

During the trial, there was no indication that the 31-year-old had a gender-recognition certificate.

Bryson was found guilty of both counts of rape yesterday. The accused is understood to be being held in a segregation unit at Cornton Vale Women’s Prison, where the attacker will face a risk assessment ahead of sentencing on February 28. Officials will decide whether the sex offender will serve the final sentence in a women’s prison or a men’s prison.

Activists have slammed the move following controversy over Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Reform Bill (GRR), which would allow anyone over the age of 16 to self-identify as the opposite sex without a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria require.

Susan Smith, of campaign group For Women Scotland, said it was “disgusting” that Bryson was being held in Cornton Vale.

She said: “The risk assessment should be perfectly clear.”

She insisted that Bryson was a danger to women and “shouldn’t be anywhere near the kind of vulnerable women that are in prison.”

Miss Smith added, “Some of our MSPs must have lived incredibly sheltered lives if they believe that predatory and abusive men would not try their best to further hurt victims and seek easier access to potential future victims.”

The Scottish Government said: “Decisions made by the Scottish Prisons Service about the placement of transgender prisoners are based on the protection of the welfare and rights of individuals and those around them.”

Bryson was found guilty of both counts of rape yesterday. The defendant denied the allegations and said as evidence that she would “never hurt another person”.

Her defense attorney, KC Edward Targowski, even said in Glasgow High Court: “If you accept this evidence that she is in a transition, that she is aiming to continue down that path to becoming a female gender, that wears one played a large part in clearing them of these charges.” .

Security Minister for the Scottish Conservative shadow community, Russell Findlay, said yesterday: “This rapist only decided he was no longer a man after he appeared in court on a rape charge.

“We now have the utterly perverse situation in which a Scottish court is referring to someone who says he identifies himself as a woman by using ‘her penis’ to rape two vulnerable women.

“We have warned that this could be inevitable if the SNP Gender Self-Identification Act is passed, but that this has become a reality is deeply concerning and an affront to the victims.”

The first victim recalled repeatedly saying “no” when her “muscled” attacker raped her as the then-husband climbed into bed next to her in 2016. The second woman was raped in an apartment as they were about to watch the 2019 film Mean Girls.

Bryson first appeared in the dock as Adam Graham in July 2019. At the start of her six-day trial, the defendant was known as Isla Bryson. Bryson is currently on hormones and is aiming for surgery to complete the gender reassignment.

In December, around 60 protesters gathered outside Cornton Vale when trans pedophile Katie Dolatowski was sent there. It came amid ongoing controversy over Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill (GRR), which would allow anyone over the age of 16 to self-identify as the opposite sex without needing a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

On Monday, Rishi Sunak blocked Ms Sturgeon’s controversial gender reforms after receiving clear legal advice they would undermine women’s rights in Britain.

Scottish law would allow people to apply for a gender recognition certificate after living in their new gender for just three months, and with no medical proof required.

Activists warned that biological males could allow access to women-only areas such as changing rooms, jails and hostels for battered women, undermining the current protections of Equality Act, which covers both England and Wales and Scotland.

The Gender Equality Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament last month with the backing of Labor and the Liberal Democrats and the ruling SNP.

Today Isla Bryson seems to be on her way to a women’s prison.

Tory MP Miriam Cates told MailOnline: “It is almost impossible to believe that in a civilized society a man convicted of raping two women could be put in a women’s prison.”

At trial, the defendant was known as Isla Bryson, and jurors said Adam Graham is now her “dead name” — one “given to a transgender person at birth and falling out of use after transition.”

Bryson told her trial that she has been on hormone treatment and is expecting more, adding: “I obviously want all the surgeries the NHS can offer.”

The accused had assaulted the first victim at a flat in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, after meeting on dating site Badoo while known as Adam.

This was immediately after Bryson’s marriage to a woman ended.

In her evidence, Bryson claimed she was effectively using the 30-year-old as her shelter.

But the victim told how she fell head over heels in love with Adam. However, she soon suffered when Adam went from “caring” to a rage over trivial matters.

The rape happened on September 16, 2016, after Bryson locked the door and got into bed next to her.

In a pre-recorded statement played to jurors, the victim said: “I thought Adam had come for a cuddle and at that moment everything felt weird and wrong.

“I didn’t know what was going on.”

The woman recalled saying “no” repeatedly when a “muscled” Adam thrust himself at her.

The ordeal only ended when the victim’s mother turned on the light in the hallway.

The second woman was raped at a flat in Drumchapel, Glasgow on June 27, 2019.

Bryson told jurors how she shared her “sexuality issues” with the 34-year-old, whom she met on social media site Bigo.

The court heard that the couple were at the apartment together and planned to watch the film Mean Girls.

The victim recalled feeling “crushed” as an attacker she knew when Adam forced himself on her.

She explained: “I told him to stop and he didn’t. He went on. So I closed my eyes and let him do what he wanted.’

In her own testimony, Bryson – who said she was “scared” on the witness stand – often became emotional as she refuted the allegations.

Bryson said: “I would never do that. I would never hurt a woman.”

Bryson admitted to cheating on the first victim, adding: “She loved me. It’s killing me for hurting her like that.’

Regarding the sexual contact with the second woman, Bryson told the jury, “I didn’t make the first move. I can ensure you.’

Bryson’s attorney also asked her about her gender issues today. Bryson said she first became aware of it when she was four years old.

Bryson told the jury, “I was always hanging out with the girls and I was always doing my makeup.”

Bryson said she first made the decision to “transition” from a man to a woman in 2020 after appearing to have faced the rape charge for the first time.

Bryson has received hormone treatment and is awaiting more. When asked about surgery, the accused said: “I would obviously like any surgery that the NHS can provide.”

After the ruling, prosecutor John Keenan KC said the first rape attack was reported to authorities in 2016, but there were no further “procedures” at this time.

Lord Scott postponed sentencing Bryson until 28 February at Stirling.

Bryson already had three summary convictions — not on sexual charges — and had never been imprisoned before.

But the judge told her: “You have been convicted of two extremely serious charges.

“Given what you have been convicted of, a significant prison sentence is inevitable.

“I’m going to revoke bail and keep you in custody in the meantime.”

Bryson had turned up most days with a large suitcase. The media and the public had to watch the proceedings from another auditorium in the courthouse.

A previous trial was cut short because Bryson reported feeling uncomfortable after her picture was taken when the defendant arrived in court.

Bryson is understood to be being held in the segregation unit of Cornton Vale Women’s Prison in Stirlingshire.

This is a unit where inmates can be held for their own safety or the safety of other prisoners.

Subsequent transfer to the general population, alongside other females, is possible subject to risk assessment.

Prisoners can be kept in seclusion for years, but it must be checked regularly to comply with human rights laws.