NICOLA Sturgeon said a convicted double rapist will not be “incarcerated in a women’s prison”.

She was challenged by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross that a trans prisoner, convicted of rape, was being held in Cornton Vale.

The High Court in Glasgow heard Isla Bryson raped two women, one in Clydebank in 2016 and one in Drumchapel in 2019.

Bryson, from Clydebank, committed the crimes before she transitioned to female and when she was known as Adam Graham.

Bryson was remanded in custody in Cornton Vale awaiting sentencing.

The First Minister, however, said: “I can confirm this prisoner will not be incarcerated at Cornton Vale.”

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She said she agreed with the chief executive of Rape Crisis who said ‘I don’t see how it’s possible for a rapist to be in a women’s prison’.

Sturgeon added the prisoner in question was undergoing a risk assessment and stated: “If any prisoner poses a risk that prisoner is segregated from other prisoners.”

She added: “This prisoner is not going to be incarcerated in Cornton Vale short term or long term.”

Ross asked where the prisoner was staying: “Is he in a women’s prison, yes or no?”

He said: “The problem as we have said all along is not trans people, the problem is violent offenders.

“But now, before the SNPs GRR bill even came into force, rapists are exploiting the current laws. We shouldn’t make it any easier for them to attack women.

“Nicola Sturgeon seems to reject the fact that he’s currently there is not a risk to women. I can’t agree with that.”

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He added: “Will she (Sturgeon) go to Cornton Vale and personally explain to the women there why they are sharing their prison with a double rapist in a cell next door.”

Sturgeon, however, told him: “The Scottish Prison Service is in the process of giving effect to the decision it has taken not to incarcerate this prisoner in Cornton Vale.”

“My expectation is this prisoner will not be in Cornton Vale prison. And before the 72-hour period expires my expectation is that this prisoner will not be in Cornton Vale prison. That I think to most people and to people who are reasonable, would be a very clear explanation of the situation.”

Sturgeon said there are currently a “very, very small number” of trans women prisoners and she said “many of them are in male prisons”.

She added: “There is no automatic right for any trans woman to serve their sentence in a female prison ... [it's] subject to robust risk assessment.”