Transgender rapist Isla Bryson claims to have been victim of 'hate crime' by prison staff

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson has claimed to be the victim of hate crime from prison staff.

Bryson, 32, was jailed in February 2023 after being convicted of raping two women, crimes which were committed while living as a man, Adam Graham.

After being convicted at the High Court in Glasgow, Bryson was sent to women’s prison Cornton Vale before later moving to the male prison estate.

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

The sex offender claimed to have received an apology after complaining about being “misgendered” and being called “son” by a female member of staff, in a hand written letter to the Sunday Mail.

Bryson wrote: “I’m just dealing with transphobia from staff.

“I was told from a staff member in Edinburgh that the MSP has been telling governors to treat trans women that come into the SPS (Scottish Prison Service) like men.

“It’s disgusting and a hate crime.”

The letter added: “They refuse to put any female toiletries or makeup out.

“I am on blockers just now… I don’t sound like a man anymore.”

Bryson was convicted of raping one woman in Clydebank in 2016 and another in nearby Drumchapel in 2019, but insisted: “I’m only into men.”

Bryson admitted having a five-month relationship with a fellow prisoner who was jailed for six years in 2019 for paedophilia and drugs, as well as a three-week relationship with an inmate called Colin.

The letter added: “I want to make this clear, I don’t like women, I’m only into men.”

Natalie Beal, governor of male prison HMP Glenochil, wrote to Bryson last month following the incident in which a member of staff called Bryson “son”, and said the SPS officer immediately “apologised after realising their mistake”, the newspaper reported.

The letter stated that during the probe, Bryson was unable to state the date, time or name of officers involved in either incident, with no witnesses found, the Sunday Mail reported.

Ms Beal said in the letter that a separate unclear incident involving a metal detector was an oversight by a prison officer who “may not have realised” at the time that Bryson was a trans prisoner.

It was reported that Ms Beal added: “We do apologise if you felt disrespected but we do not believe that would have been the intention of the officer concerned.”

The SPS has previously said it is committed to a culture of equality of opportunity and diversity and it was reported that it has a variety of clothing, including unisex, to fit individual prisoners, the Sunday Mail reported.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We do not comment on individuals.”