Thread by @ForWomenScot

bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
🧵In the same week that @scotgov appeared in court to force a Judicial Review over their Prison Guidance which allows violent male criminals to be housed alongside vulnerable women in the female estate, the outcome of a Fatal Accident Inquiry was reported into the death by suicide of a trans-identified male in the Separation and Reintegration Unit (SRU) at Perth Prison.

Aiden “Sarah” Riley was a deeply unwell, dangerous prisoner who had spent his entire adult life in the prison system or under supervision.

The case reveals the type of criminal transferred to the women’s estate under the SPS policy, the serious issues which are overlooked or ignored once “trans” enters the equation, and the determination of ideologically driven officers to push transfers - even when the male prisoner is also resistant.

Despite the bizarre tale which unfolds in the report, one of the judge’s recommendations is that proposed transfers of trans-identified prisoners need to be dealt with more swiftly. In light of everything we know, this is absurd and troubling. A transfer to the women's estate should have been out of the question. Women, it seems, will continue to be used as support animals for some very violent men.
scotcourts.gov.uk/media/fn2b4bn1…

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/…
Aiden Riley was jailed for two years eight months in 2008 for stabbing Derek Graham (18) in Aberfeldy, Perth. Riley stabbed Graham in the back - the knife went through the chest wall and penetrated his left lung - had the angle been marginally different he would certainly have died. Riley was also 18 at the time of his conviction & on probation for another crime.

The BBC reported that Riley had been play-fighting with friends but took offence when he was hit. He went to his mother's house to pick up a knife and told her that he intended to kill someone. She told him to go to hospital but he later returned for the knife. After knifing Graham, he claimed that voices had told him to commit the crime.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/…
Riley was originally charged with attempted murder but Perth Sheriff Court accepted Riley’s guilty plea to a reduced charge of assault to severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of the victim’s life.

The Sheriff felt his powers were not sufficient to sentence Riley as he could only impose a 5 year sentence & the case was referred to the High Court where Lord Uist said: “I’m appalled the Crown think this is a suitable case for the sheriff court.”

The High Court heard that Riley had a long record which included setting fire to public buildings and threatening teachers and care workers as well as members of his own family. The judge noted that he was “effectively expelled from nursery”.

Lord Uist said background reports “make alarming reading. It is clear to me from these reports that you represent a very serious risk to the public."

"You have fantasies which have intensified with your age”.

Riley was made subject to an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) which is used for the most unstable prisons and ensures they are only released when it is deemed safe & will, thereafter, be monitored for life.

After a period in YOI and Perth Prison, Riley was transfered to Castle Huntly, an open prison in November 2014. The following Feb, Riley announced he wished to be transition and “live as female” in the male open estate.

However, Riley was transferred to Corton Vale under the SPS transgender policy.

The experiment was not a success from any perspective. Riley was disruptive, threatened staff & other inmates and self harmed. He was placed in the SRU a month after he arrived in the prison. In order to get back to the male estate, Riley announced he no longer wanted to transition and became more dangerous when the transfer was not granted immediately.

Back in the male estate, Riley was judged to have Paranoid Personality Disorder, Emotionally Unstable (Borderline Type) Personality Disorder and Anxious Personality Disorder and features of dissocial and schizoid personality disorders. Yet, for some reason, it doesn’t seem to have occurred that his trans identity might be a manifestation of his serious mental health issues. He was also assessed to have gender dysphoria and referred to the Sandyford.

In Caslte Huntly, Riley, who was permitted to wear “women’s clothes” & given two cells for privacy, began a relationship with Henry Williamson who had murdered a nine year old boy.
thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1880820/s…

Riley was then released on parole and went to Anchor House where his behaviour, breaches of parole conditions, and drug use resulted in a recall to Perth Prison.

At this point it becomes clear that Riley was an unwanted problem. He felt safe in the familiar surroundings of Perth, but they felt they couldn’t accommodate him. He also raised the issue of hospital and yet no one seems to have considered that Carstairs might be a far more appropriate destination for Riley than Polmont or Corton Vale women’s prisons, which he did not wish to go to.

Enter Mr Fletcher, the Equality & Diversity manager who was determined that Riley should go to a women’s prison in accordance with the trans policy. The deputy governor of Edinburgh - no doubt aware of Riley’s history - had other ideas. Note that STA who devised the policy couldn’t manage to attend the case conference. Riley himself continued to resist any suggestion of Polmont.

In the meantime, he was being kept in isolation and complained that no one was listening to him

Mr Stewart, the unit manager was also determined that Riley should be “persuaded” to go to Polmont or Corton Vale. None of those debating the case seem to have considered that Riley was previously accommodated in the male estate and seems to have been content to remain in Perth. The necessity to transfer him under the trans policy seems to have been the most pressing concern.

Riley took his own life on the night of the 11/12th Jan 2019 having been kept in solitary confinement since Nov 2018. A very dangerous, yet vulnerable, male prisoner was put at increased risk arguably BECAUSE of the trans policy and the time spent arguing about which women’s prison would be forced to accommodate him. Riley's myriad problems seem to have been overlooked with the obsessive focus on his trans-identity.

During the short time he spent in the women's estate, it was clear that he was dangerous and unmanageable - indeed, he was also held in the SRU for a large part of his stay. This policy seems to benefit no one, except, perhaps, organisations like STA which "strategized" that persuading the prison service to move these men into women's prisons would unlock the door to other services and spaces.

Prisoners have been the guinea pig in a dangerous, irresponsible experiment with female prisoners and staff placed at intolerable risk.