Trans prisoner charged with sexual assault on fellow inmate at 'mixed-gender' Scottish jail

Peter Stevens
Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:44:30 +0000

A transgender prisoner has been charged with sexual assault on a fellow inmate at a "mixed-gender" Scottish jail.

Alexandria Stewart, previously known as Alan Baker, allegedly carried out the attack inside HMP Greenock's hair salon.

Police confirmed Stewart, 38, was arrested and charged.

The inmate is currently locked up in the women's wing of the jail.

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A Police Scotland spokesman said: "A 38-year-old prisoner has been arrested and charged in connection with a sexual assault within HMP Greenock.

"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "We do not comment on individuals.

"Incidents of alleged criminality are reported to Police Scotland."

It comes amid a row over the Scottish Prison Service's (SPS's) policy of allowing biological men in women's jails.

SPS guidance says trans inmates are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

But just months ago, a leading women's rights group launched a judicial review into the continued housing of biologically-male prisoners in female prisons.

The policy, introduced in February 2024, has been challenged by For Women Scotland who argue the guidance does not comply with the Equality Act.

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The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have agreed with For Women Scotland.

The Scottish Human Rights Commission, meanwhile, has said the policy is not clear enough and could result in cases which are not compliant with human rights.

The UK Supreme Court last year ruled that "sex" as defined by the Equality Act refers to biological sex in a case also brought by For Women Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney told Holyrood the prison guidance "does not need to be changed" earlier this year.

And the Scottish Government has said the Equality Act "does not mandate sex segregation", adding biology is "not the sole determining factor" for housing prisoners.

The British Government has said it was waiting to update guidelines to public bodies until the EHRC releases its own code of practice.

Bridget Phillipson, the Women and Equalities Minister, has said updated guidelines would be published after the May 7 elections, despite the EHRC submitting it in September.