Female prisoner claims she was blocked from parole over 'trans' abuse of inmate
'I'm not transphobic- I just don't like Alex as a person."
A female prisoner has claimed she was blocked from applying for parole for four years after being accused of an anti-trans hate campaign against a killer.
Jayney Sutherley stood accused of trans-phobic verbal abuse towards murderer Alex Stewart, formerly Alan Baker, and child killer lover Nyomi Fee inside HMP Greenock between 2019 and 2023.
However the hate crime case against Sutherley was found not proven, and Sheriff Millar added that referring to a trans person by their 'original biological state' was not transphobic.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mail from HMP Polmont, the grandmother said: 'I am so glad this case is over. When I left the dock, my legs buckled. I've not stopped crying.'
Sutherley's solicitor told Greenock Sheriff Court Stewart only complained four years after the alleged abuse began after the case of rapist Isla Bryson in 2023 which resulted in prison service policies on where trans lags are housed being placed under review.
Hairdresser Sutherley, 51, who killed a man with scissors, has told how she was denied being able to apply for parole due to the case which she believes was a bid by male-born Stewart to stay in a female jail.
She added: 'Because of Alex I have lost three years of my life and precious time with my granddaughter.
'My latest parole hearing was the day of the trial. But I couldn't go with this hanging over my head, I had to be in court.
'This has stopped me progressing towards parole for years. I might not have been given parole at each hearing, but I was denied even the chance to try.
'These claims from Alex all came about when trans prisoners were put on notice and locked up for a month, when Nicola Sturgeon couldn't make up her mind after the Isla Bryson case. Trans prisoners feared getting moved to male jails.
' Alex wasn't scared of me. Despite knowing my crime, I killed a man with scissors, Alex still requested the prison salon to be opened for me to do hair for their art graduation. Why do that if you think I'm transphobic and you're afraid of me?'
Bryson, born Adam Graham, began to identify as a woman while awaiting trial for rape.
Bryson was sent to female jail Cornton Vale before ex-First Minister Sturgeon announced a switch to all-male HMP Edinburgh.
Trans cons faced being moved to male jails but prison chiefs opted to let them stay if they had not shown violence to women.
In April Britain's highest court ruled only two biological sexes – male and female, assigned at birth – can be recognised under the 2010 Equality Act.
But Sutherley says existing SPS policies leave female cons at risk of facing similar sanctions to her if they're accused of being transphobic.
Sutherley added: 'I don't have a problem with trans women. I am friends with Paris Green, who is trans.
'I just don't like Alex Stewart as a person, that is not a crime. I don't want to talk to Nyomi or make Christmas cards with her because she killed a baby.
'The system needs to change, the SPS needs to start listening to the majority and stop being scared of the minority.
'In women's jails, trans prisoners are given so many more privileges as people are afraid to get it wrong. There is no segregation in Greenock so when I was in the shower Alex would be in the cubicle next to me.
'But Alex would have all day to shower, we wouldn't.
'Nyomi and Alex run the jail. No-one can say anything in fear of being accused of being transphobic and end up with a court case hanging over their heads for four years. I don't want this to happen to any other women.'
Hairdresser Sutherley was jailed for six years and eight months in 2020 for killing Alistair MacFadyen in Paisley.
Stewart, 37, changed gender in 2016 after being jailed three years earlier for murdering dad-of-two John Weir.
Fee was ordered to serve a minimum of 24 years after she and ex Rachel Trelfa, 34, were convicted in 2016 of killing Rachel's two-year-old son Liam.
Bryson, 33, was convicted of raping women, as Graham in 2023 and jailed for eight years, with a further three on licence.
Kate Coleman, former director of Keep Prisons Single Sex, said: 'The impact on Jayney has been immense.'
The Parole Board for Scotland said they do not comment on individual cases.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Our staff work hard to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people living and working in Scotland's prisons.
'We have received the Supreme Court's judgement and are considering any potential impact it may have.'
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