A TRANSGENDER double rapist was studying a beauty course with young female students while awaiting trial for the sex attacks, it has been revealed.
Convicted predator Isla Bryson – guilty of raping two vulnerable mums while still living as Adam Graham – joined the course at Ayrshire College’s Kilwinning Campus in 2021.
4Bryson was found guilty of raping two vulnerable mums with “her penis” while living as a man
4Isla Bryson was previously known as Adam Graham
4Bryson was enrolled in a beauty course at Ayrshire College’s Kilwinning CampusCredit: AlamyAccording to STV News, the course lasted three months and was almost exclusively full of female students who were all much younger than Bryson, who is now 31-years-old.
It would have allowed the sex fiend to have been able to access and prey on young vulnerable women while awaiting trial.
Some of the work involved in the course meant that students had to work closely together for practical elements, and included them doing each other’s make-up.
Ayrshire College confirmed that Bryson was enrolled in their course, but added that they had no knowledge about their pending trial or that she had been charged with any offences.
A spokesperson from Ayrshire College told STV News: “We can confirm the individual was enrolled as a student at Ayrshire College for a three-month period in 2021 and is no longer a student with the College.
“Ayrshire College had no prior knowledge of this individual being charged with any offences.”
Susan Smith from the campaign group For Women Scotland, explained on STV News at Six that since he was charged under his original name, students and staff would not have been able to find out anything about his former self.
She added: “It’s absolutely terrifying that people can hide their identities and gain access to young women in this way.”
It comes after it was announced that Bryson would be shifted from Scotland’s main female prison after a furious backlash.
There has been fury as Graham began identifying as female Isla Bryson after being charged with rape.
It’s understood Bryson has not legally changed gender by obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate.
But officials referred to Bryson, 31, as female, and court documents even referred to “her penis”.
Speaking at Parliament earlier today, Ms Sturgeon confirmed she personally did not believe a convicted rapist should be sent to a women’s prison.
She said: “I heard the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland say this yesterday ‘I don’t see how it’s possible to have a rapist within a female prison,’ and so let me be very clear, I agree with that statement and bearing in mind what I’ve just said about individualised risk assessment, as a general principle and presumption I think that statement is correct.”
And while she claimed that the location of Bryson was “operational for the Scottish Prison Service” due to the “understandable concerns” around the case she was obliged to speak up.
She said: “In general, any prisoner who poses a risk of sexual offending is segregated from other prisoners including during any period of risk assessment, secondly there is no automatic right of a trans woman convicted of a crime to serve their sentence in a female prison even if they have a gender recognition certificate. Every case is subject to rigorous risk assessment and as part of that the safety of other prisoners is paramount.”
On the specific case, Ms Sturgeon said the risk assessment was underway, adding: “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 and I hope that provides assurance to the public, not least the victims in this particular case.”
At FMQs, Mr Ross had cited prison rules set down in law, which include powers for ministers to make various directions to Scottish Prison Service bosses.
The Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 – rules set down in law – give Scottish ministers power to direct “supervision levels” criteria for prisoners, and this must be reviewed “within 72 hours of reception”.
Mr Ross argued that “this beast is in a women’s prison right now” and said it was a “threat” that Bryson was currently in Cornton Vale – even if segregated.
Cornton Vale near Stirling – where Bryson was sent this week – is due to close by the end of February.
The remaining prisoners there will be sent to other locations in the Scottish Prison Service women’s estate.
There are women’s blocks at HMP Edinburgh, HMP Grampian near Peterhead, HMP Greenock, and Polmont young offenders’ institute.
Two new women’s “community custody units” opened last year in Dundee – housing 16 women – and in Glasgow, for 24 women.
HM Prison & Young Offenders Institute Stirling – a new national women’s facility – is being built on the Cornton Vale site and is due to open in summer 2023.
There are currently 290 prisoners in the women’s estate, according to the latest count as of last Friday.
Bryson, previously known as Adam Graham, was on Tuesday found guilty of raping one woman in Clydebank in 2016 and another in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
During the court proceedings, Bryson claimed she knew she was transgender at the age of four but did not make the decision to transition until she was 29, and is currently taking hormones and seeking surgery to complete gender reassignment.
She said that in 2016 she was “struggling with my sexuality and having issues emotionally”.
Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has also criticised the decision to hold Bryson in a women’s prison.
Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, Ms Cooper said: “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.”
Fiona Cruickshanks, head of operations and protection at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said if an individual inmate poses a particular risk, they can be removed and separated from other prisoners.
4Isla Bryson will be moved from Cornton Vale prisonCredit: Andrew BarrWe pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at scoop@thesun.co.uk or call 0141 420 5200
Story Credit: thesun.co.uk