Transgender woman found guilty of rape while living as a man

A transgender female has been convicted of raping two vulnerable women while living as a man. Isla Bryson was known as Adam Graham when she carried out the sex attacks in 2016 and 2019.

The 31 year-old - who claimed to have had gender issues since the age of 4 - had denied the accusations.

She told jurors any sex was consensual although insisted she did not like sleeping with women.

Bryson was today found guilty of the two rape charges following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

She had first appeared in the dock in July 2019 as Adam Graham.

In high court papers dated 2020, the rapist was then referred to as Annie Bryson.

This was around the time Bryson told jurors she first made the decision to transition from a man to a woman.

At this trial, she was then known as Isla Bryson with jurors told Adam Graham was now her "dead name" one “a transgender person was given at birth and no longer uses upon transitioning”.

Bryson had been on bail, but was today remanded in custody by judge Lord Scott.

She had attacked the first victim at a flat in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire having met on the Badoo dating site while known as Adam.

This was immediately after Bryson's marriage to a woman had ended.

In her evidence, Bryson claimed she had effectively used the 30 year-old for somewhere to stay.

But, the victim told how she had been "head over heels in love" with Adam.

However, she soon suffered as Adam went from "caring" to flying into a rage at trivial matters.

The rape occurred on September 16 2016 after Bryson locked the door and got into bed beside her.

In pre-recorded testimony played to jurors, the victim said: "I thought Adam had came for a cuddle and - at that moment - everything felt weird and wrong.

"I did not know what was going on."

The woman recalled repeatedly stating "no".

The second woman was raped at a flat in Drumchapel, Glasgow on June 27 2019.

Bryson told jurors how she had shared her "sexuality issues" with the 34 year-old having met on the social media site Bigo.

The court heard the pair were together at the flat planning to watch the film Mean Girls.

She stated: "I told him to stop and he did not. He kept going. That is when I closed my eyes and let him do what he wanted to do."

In her own evidence, Bryson - who said she was "scared" in the witness box - often became emotional as she refuted the charges.

She said: "I would never do that. I would never hurt any woman."

Regarding sexual contact with the second woman, she told jurors: "I did not make the first move. I can assure you."

Bryson said she first made the decision about "transition" from a man to a woman in 2020 after she first appeared to face the rape charge.

She has received hormone treatment and is expecting further.

After the verdict, prosecutor John Keenan KC said the first rape attack had been reported to the authorities in 2016, but that there were no further "proceedings at that stage".

Lord Scott deferred sentencing on Bryson until February 28 in Stirling.

She already had three summary levels convictions - not for sexual matters - and has never been jailed before.

But, the judge told her: "You have been convicted of two extremely serious charges.

"Given what you have been convicted of, a a significant custodial sentence is inevitable.

"I will revoke bail and remand you in custody meantime."

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.