Isla Bryson

2023 - 2 - 28

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Trans woman Isla Bryson jailed for eight years for raping two women (The Guardian)

Bryson, 31, committed offences in Clydebank and Glasgow in 2016 and 2019 before transitioning.

She was found guilty of two charges of rape in January after a six-day trial at the high court in Glasgow. She said: “All I said was ‘no’ over and over and over again. The defendant claimed both women consented to having sex. The case sparked a debate over transgender prisoners after Bryson was initially remanded in Scotland’s all-female Cornton Vale prison. The judge, Lord Scott, said Bryson posed a high risk of reoffending. Bryson, from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, first appeared in court in 2019 as Adam Graham and both victims knew their attacker by that name.

HMA v Isla Bryson (Judiciary of Scotland)

Feb 28, 2023. At the High Court in Edinburgh today, Lord Scott sentenced Isla Bryson to an extended sentence of 11 years, in cumulo, for two charges of rape ...

On charges 1 and 3 taken together, I sentence you to a cumulo extended sentence of 11 years with a custodial term of 8 years and an extension period of 3 years for the duration of which you will be under licence on conditions fixed by the Scottish Ministers. If during this extension period you fail to comply with the conditions of your licence it may be revoked by the Scottish Ministers and you may be returned to custody for a further period. Having considered the pattern of offending, the gravity of your crimes and the insights in the various reports, I consider that the question of how best to protect the public arises. Accordingly I consider that the custodial sentence in your case should be by way of an extended sentence. Having regard to the whole circumstances of the case, in particular the gravity of the charges, only a custodial sentence is appropriate. It is plain that you present a particularly significant risk to any woman with whom you form a relationship. You are not yet at the stage of accepting what you did or acknowledging responsibility for the serious harm you have inflicted on two vulnerable women. It also explains that there ‘would need to be a level of acceptance to allow any intervention to be successful’. The Sentencing Guideline on the Principles and Purposes of Sentencing explains what must be considered in determining a fair and proportionate sentence. Your vulnerability is no excuse at all for what you did to these two women in in 2016 and 2019. Without any foundation, you claim to believe that the 2 victims may know each other and have colluded in their claims. When deciding a sentence, a judge must deal with the offence that the offender has been convicted of, taking into account the unique circumstances of each particular case.

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson jailed for eight years for attacks on ... (Sky News)

An urgent case review was ordered by Scotland's justice secretary after Isla Bryson, 31, was housed at an all-female prison following her double rape ...

While the Bryson case is not directly related, the timing was tough for the first minister. Ms Sturgeon, famous for her robust communications skills, floundered under questions from journalists and opponents around whether Bryson was indeed "gaming" the system. It was controversial legislation that led to bitter infighting and a public fallout within the SNP. This triggered a major fallout, caused embarrassment for ministers and resulted in the immediate removal of the trans rapist from that prison. This is a case with huge ramifications outside of the court room. Then came the first minister's shock resignation. One of the frontrunners to replace Ms Sturgeon, Kate Forbes, told Sky News Isla Bryson "is a man" while her leadership rival Humza Yousaf told Sophy Ridge on Sunday the trans rapist was "at it". ["almost certainly" a sham](https://news.sky.com/story/nicola-sturgeon-says-double-rapist-isla-bryson-almost-certainly-claiming-to-be-transgender-as-easy-way-out-12801554), Ms Sturgeon said she didn't have enough information to say whether Bryson was a man or a woman. [concluded that women were not at risk from harm](https://news.sky.com/story/women-not-at-risk-of-harm-when-transgender-rapist-isla-bryson-housed-in-female-only-jail-says-prison-service-review-12806993) as a consequence of the management of Bryson. Ms Medhurst explained that at the time of admission to the prison estate "extremely limited information" is available on the inmate as there is no time for a multi-disciplinary case conference so a "best case decision" is taken. [Transgender woman found guilty of rape when she was a man](https://news.sky.com/story/transgender-woman-found-guilty-at-glasgow-court-of-rape-when-she-was-a-man-12794388) [Women 'not at risk of harm' in female-only jail](https://news.sky.com/story/women-not-at-risk-of-harm-when-transgender-rapist-isla-bryson-housed-in-female-only-jail-says-prison-service-review-12806993) [Scottish Prison Service boss questioned over case](https://news.sky.com/story/scottish-prison-service-boss-questioned-over-isla-bryson-transgender-rapist-case-12817117) [moved to the male estate within days](https://news.sky.com/story/transgender-woman-convicted-of-rape-will-not-be-held-in-all-female-prison-sturgeon-says-12795942) and an urgent case review was ordered by Justice Secretary Keith Brown.

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson jailed for eight years in Scotland (Irish Examiner)

Isla Bryson was sentenced to eight years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh, with a further three years on licence.

The court heard Bryson entered the victim with “her penis”, and was told to stop because Bryson was “crushing” the victim. I just didn’t know what was going on.” Sick to the stomach.

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson jailed for eight years (Sunday World)

The 31-year-old was convicted last month of raping two women – one in Clydebank in 2016 and one in Drumchapel, Glasgow, in 2019 – while a man known as Adam ...

I just didn’t know what was going on.” He said the rapist was “a high risk of reoffending”, adding: “There will need to be a high level of supervision.” The court heard Bryson entered the victim with “her penis”, and was told to stop because Bryson was “crushing” the victim. The victim told the court: “I said to stop but he (Bryson) just kept on going, and that’s when I just closed my eyes and I am doing what he wanted to do.” Sick to the stomach. You are not.

Isla Bryson, trans woman who transitioned while awaiting trial for ... (CBS News)

Isla Bryson transitioned from a man to a woman while awaiting trial for raping two women in 2016 and 2019.

He said he had reached his sentencing decision "on the basis that you are vulnerable in some ways." Bryson's case generated heated debate after she was initially placed in the women's prison upon being found guilty. You are not," judge Lord Scott said at Bryson's sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson jailed for eight years for attacking two ... (LBC)

Transgender woman Isla Bryson has been sentenced to eight years in prison for raping two women before transitioning.

The victim's police statement said Bryson instead told her to "stay there" because "he (Bryson) wasn't finished". I just didn't know what was going on." The court heard Bryson entered the victim with "her penis", and was told to stop because Bryson was "crushing" the victim.