Trans rapist Isla Bryson leaves women's prison and is put in all-male unit trends now

Transgender rapist Isla Bryson has today been moved out of Scotland's only all-women's prison to a male jail within hours of a humiliating U-turn by Nicola Sturgeon.

Bryson, named Adam Graham until 2020, was removed to a male wing of a prison this afternoon at around 2.30pm and arrived at a replacement facility at 5.20pm.

The SNP leader revealed the U-turn just 24 hours after her own justice secretary Keith Brown backed the Scottish Prison Service's decision to put the transgender double rapist with female inmates in Cornton Vale jail in Stirling. 

Bryson's estranged wife Shonna Graham, 31, told MailOnline her former partner's transition was a 'sham for attention' and he was 'bull******** the authorities' to avoid a male prison. Critics said the rapist was a threat to female inmates.

Today Ms Sturgeon revealed the abuser – who was born a man, still has a penis and only began transitioning after being charged with rape – would be moved out of the all-female prison after just two days there.

The First Minister did not say where Bryson will be sent but her spokesman later confirmed it would 'not be on the female estate'. Ms Sturgeon told First Minister's Questions: 'I don't think it's possible to have a rapist within a women's prison'.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said today: 'It should not have taken public disgust and a slew of negative headlines about a double rapist being sent to a women's prison for Nicola Sturgeon to realise this was completely unacceptable and wrong.'

Meanwhile, Mr Ross accused Ms Sturgeon of 'hiding behind' the Scottish Prison Service when she suggested it was responsible for the decision. 

At First Ministers' Questions, he cited rules that grant ministers the power to direct 'supervision levels' criteria for prisoners, and this must be reviewed 'within 72 hours of reception'. 

Scottish Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said: 'It is shameful that Nicola Sturgeon refuses to admit that her government – and her own SNP ministers – have allowed a double rapist to be held in a women's prison.' 

His colleague Tess White added: 'A predatory double rapist being held in a women's prison for any length of time is dangerous. 

'An SNP minister defended the decision one day – then Nicola Sturgeon backtracked the next. What would have happened if there hadn't been a public backlash?'

Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: 'The risk assessment is under way. However, as in all cases, the Scottish Prison Service will not wait until an assessment is completed if they think action is required more quickly – and this prisoner is not going to be incarcerated in Cornton Vale women's prison.

'In terms of the interim situation, and how the situation I said there is going to be achieved, I've got to be mindful of allowing the Scottish Prison Service to do their operational job and to do that properly.'

Referring to the Bryson case, Ms Sturgeon confirmed: 'This prisoner will not be incarcerated in Cornton Vale women's prison – short term or long term'. 

Late, the First Minister told journalists that no 'formal direction' had been given to the prison service by the Government on where Bryson should be imprisoned. 

A source told BBC Scotland after it emerged the rapist would be moved that Ms Sturgeon 'believes that is the right call'.

The row has engulfed the Scottish Government and its First Minister, whose controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill — which would allow anyone over 16 to 'self-identify' as the opposite sex without needing medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria — has not yet been legally ratified.  

Amid protests about the decision to send Bryson to Cornton Vale, Ms Sturgeon said: '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. I hope that provides assurance to the public.'

Bryson only started to transition after appearing in court on the rape charges. 

MPs and MSPs warned that female inmates could be at risk and the move sent a signal that male sex offenders could 'game the system'. 

It came as a retired governor of Cornton Vale jail declared today that if she were still in charge and had to take in sex attacker Bryson, she would quit. 

Rhona Hotchkiss believes it is 'appalling' that the 31-year-old was sent to the all-female jail after being convicted of raping two women while still a man named Adam Graham.

Bryson is being held at Scotland's only full female jail while risk assessments are carried out ahead of sentencing on February 28. 

Critics said the abuser is a danger to women and the case has prompted calls for Ms Sturgeon's stalling Gender Recognition Reform Bill to be reviewed.

Miss Hotchkiss is an ally of JK Rowling and director of the author's Beira's Place project – a 'woman-only' sexual violence support service in Edinburgh that does not cater for trans women.

The retired prison boss said: 'This [Isla Bryson] would have been a resignation issue for me. I am absolutely clear about the fact that they should be in a male prison – you simply cannot have someone like this terrorising women. 

'It's appalling. The thought that a double rapist can identify his way into a women's prison should shock everyone.

'The other shocking aspect is, the Scottish parliament could have chosen to legislate against that happening and they didn't.'

Miss Hotchkiss told LBC Radio: 'Before I left I was in a very difficult situation where I was refusing to force female staff to search male-bodied prisoners and I was told that I would be making life very difficult for myself.

'Had I not been going to take early retirement anyway, I would have stayed and pursued that. But today, this would have been a resignation issue for me.

'I have no doubt this is a red line I would not have crossed and as the governor of Cornton Vale I would have refused to have

read more from dailymail.....