Latest news with #AlexStewart
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Lawyer had to ask for trans killer's criminal record FOUR times after name change
Solicitor Paul Lynch demands probe after revealing that he only received notorious killer Alex Stewart's genuine rap sheet after he sent law chiefs a link to a news story detailing grisly crime A lawyer at the centre of a trans row was forced to ask FOUR times for the correct criminal record of a murderer – whose offences 'disappeared' when they changed their name. Paul Lynch has called for an urgent probe into procedures that led to Police Scotland and the Crown Office falsely disclosing killer Alex Stewart had no previous convictions. Alan Baker – now known as Alex Stewart – is serving life for stabbing a man he met online before transitioning. Respected solicitor Lynch said he was flatly told by the Crown Office that Stewart had no previous convictions (PCs) – even after informing them he used to be called Alan Baker. It was only after he sent a link to an online news story about Baker's murder conviction that the error was rectified. Police Scotland insists it was a one-off clerical error and no records were wiped. But Lynch claims a full investigation is needed to make sure criminal records disclosed to the courts are accurate after changes of name or gender. He said: 'I don't accept this can be dismissed as an isolated case involving human error. It shows a systematic failure on the part of Police Scotland to have proper procedures in place, with up-to-date information enabling them to reference a person's criminal record after they have assumed a new name and gender. Otherwise, a murderer's convictions can simply disappear.' The PC disclosures sought by Lynch came in the case of killer Jayney Sutherley, who was eventually cleared of subjecting Stewart and prison lover Nyomi Fee of transphobic and homophobic abuse, including 'misgendering' Stewart. Fee's disclosed record duly showed she killed Liam Fee, four, son of her then partner Rachel Fee, also convicted of Liam's murder in 2014. But Stewart's adoption of a new name while in HMP Greenock appeared to have effectively given them a clean slate with no PCs showing. Lynch was astonished he had to ask four times for the correct PCs. He said: 'The third time, I gave them his former name but the reply still came – 'no PCs'. 'Next time I told them the witness was in custody serving a life sentence. I sent a link to a news story, suggesting it might assist. They took that information to police and the correct PCs finally arrived.' He said the situation was ludicrous given that a cop interviewed witnesses inside a high security jail about a complaint. He said: 'The witness has been identified as a murderer yet police systems somehow do not have on record Alex Stewart and Alan Baker are one and the same. It is seriously alarming. It stands to reason it could happen in any case where a trans prisoner has changed their name. 'It's not as if Alex Stewart has been under the radar. Anyone reading the Daily Record or following the media would have had more information than Police Scotland about the previous convictions of Alan Baker or Alex Stewart.' Lynch said criminals who escape their past through an administrative bungle could pose a threat. He said: 'Think of all those cases where men who have served their sentences, then changed their names and are self-identifying as women. This has to be thoroughly investigated. If this could happen in Jayney Sutherley's case, it could happen in any case.' Police Scotland last night insisted the error in disclosing previous convictions of Alex Stewart had been rectified. A spokesperson said: 'We are aware of an issue relating to the previous convictions of a victim, which were omitted from a report submitted ahead of a case heard at Greenock Sheriff Court. The issue has been rectified. Work is ongoing to prevent something similar taking place. 'Officers are liaising with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. The criminal records referred to in this case have not been wiped, they remain in place. It is inaccurate to suggest otherwise.' At Holyrood this week, Justice Secretary Angela Constance told MSPs: 'I have received assurances this was an isolated incident but I have asked Police Scotland to review their procedures.' A COPFS spokesperson said: 'The conviction record for this witness was shared quickly once the error was identified. 'We are supporting Police Scotland's review of their systems.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Criminals not able to wipe record with gender change, MSPs told
Criminals are not able to wipe clean their conviction record by changing gender, Justice Secretary Angela Constance has told MSPs. It follows reports that a murderer's criminal past was not disclosed in court files after they altered their gender identity while in said the "isolated" incident was "not reflective of broader issues" in the justice system. She told parliament Police Scotland had been asked to review its procedures following the error. Constance was quizzed about the case of Alex Stewart, formerly called Alan Baker, who was jailed for murdering father-of-two John Weir in Daily Record reported that the error with his criminal record was identified when a lawyer requested his file. The request was made ahead of a case relating to violence inside HMP Greenock in which the inmate was named as a witness. However, the criminal record under Stewart's new name was previous criminal activity only appeared when a search was done under the old name, Alan Baker, according to the Record. Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher asked Constance how many transgender prisoners' criminal records had been "erased" following changes to their birth justice secretary said: "A change of name does not under any circumstances alter a person's criminal record."All criminal records are maintained in accordance with established retention and sharing protocols and remain fully accessible to the justice system."Police Scotland has acknowledged an error in one case reported in the media and acknowledges this should not have occurred."Constance said she had been assured that this was "an isolated incident and not reflective of broader issues in their recording practices". 'Inaccurate and misleading' Gallacher replied: "This should not have happened in the first place."We are talking about convicted criminals, some of them violent or sexual offenders."She added: "We cannot have further instances of this happening in the future."We need to ensure that victims, women's' groups and the wider public have faith in the justice system."Asked to assure parliament that it was an isolated incident, Constance said: "This was an error in one case."It was a failure to disclose and not a reflection on data recording systems."In response to a question from Tory MSP Sharon Dowey, the justice secretary said it would be "utterly inaccurate and misleading ... if not disgraceful, to suggest that Police Scotland wipe criminal records". Asked about the case on Monday, First Minister John Swinney said that a criminal record "must continue to be associated" with any individual regardless of changes they make to their name or told journalists that it was important to have a clear understanding of what had happened in this added there was "a need for there to be public confidence about this question".A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesperson said: "Information about previous convictions is provided to COPFS by the police following a check of the relevant databases."Although the initial witness check showed no previous convictions, on further inquiry by the procurator fiscal this was corrected prior to trial."COPFS have asked Police Scotland to review and confirm the processes for recording and sharing information on previous convictions".A Police Scotland spokesperson said that the issue relating to Stewart's file had been "rectified" and that work was "ongoing to prevent similar scenarios taking place in the future".
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Disgraceful' to suggest police wipe records of trans criminals
Scotland's Justice Secretary has said it is 'disgraceful' to suggest the criminal records of trans people are being wiped by Police Scotland. Angela Constance admitted the force had made an 'error' after a newspaper report claimed a transgender killer had their record 'scrubbed'. The minister said she had asked Police Scotland to review its procedures in light of the incident. Ms Constance said she had been assured by the force it was an isolated incident and not part of a wider issue within the justice system. According to the Daily Record, a solicitor had requested a previous convictions disclosure from the Crown Office on prosecution witnesses in a case involving a conflict at HMP Greenock. The newspaper reports killer Alex Stewart – who changed their name from Alan Baker – was separated from their criminal past, with the disclosure returning without any convictions under Stewart's new name. At Holyrood on Tuesday, Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher asked Ms Constance how many transgender prisoners have had their criminal records erased following changes to their birth name. The Justice Secretary said: 'Let me be clear, a change of name does not under any circumstances alter a person's criminal record. 'All criminal records are maintained in accordance with established retention and sharing protocols and remain fully accessible to the justice system, including for disclosure in court proceedings where appropriate. 'Police Scotland has acknowledged an error in one case reported in the media and acknowledges that should not have occurred. 'I have sought and received assurances from Police Scotland that this was an isolated incident and not reflective of broader issues in their recording practices. 'I have also asked Police Scotland to ensure that steps will be taken to review systems and procedures in light of the reported.' She said it was an error 'in one case' around disclosure, not data recording systems. She said Stewart's crimes were still recorded in the killer's criminal history. Ms Constance insisted there could be 'no separation' between an individual and their criminal past, no matter how many name changes or changes to gender identity are made. Ms Gallacher said the error should never have happened and raised concerns the records of killers and sex offenders could be erased. Alba MSP Ash Regan claimed she had evidence that Stewart's case was not a 'mere administrative error' but was part of 'systemic data corruption' driven by 'years of unlawful self-ID policy'. Ms Regan did not say what evidence she held. Tory MSP Sharon Dowey described the situation as a 'shambles'. She added: 'We know that dangerous male offenders have gamed the SNP system to serve their sentences in women's prisons, and now they are even getting their criminal records wiped.' The Justice Secretary rejected Ms Dowey's claims, saying: 'It is utterly inaccurate and misleading and somewhat disingenuous, if not disgraceful, to suggest that Police Scotland wipe criminal records. 'Under no circumstances do Police Scotland wipe criminal records, and under no circumstances can anyone, irrespective of their name, status, whether they are male, female, transgender, can they escape from a criminal past – they cannot.' A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: 'We are aware of an issue relating to the previous convictions of a victim, which were omitted from a report submitted ahead of a case heard at Greenock Sheriff Court. 'The issue has been rectified and work is ongoing to prevent similar scenarios taking place in the future. Officers are continuing to liaise with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.'
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Killer's criminal record ‘wiped clean' after self-identifying as woman
A killer's criminal record was 'wiped clean' after they self-identified as a woman, it has emerged. The SNP's 'reckless' gender policy has been blamed for an administrative mistake that led to a murderer's criminal record being 'cleaned'. The Crown Office and Police Scotland are now under pressure to investigate the 'serious lapse' amid concern the case may not be isolated. The bungle was discovered after a solicitor requested a previous convictions disclosure on prosecution witnesses in a case involving alleged conflict inside HMP Greenock. The witnesses included the trans woman Alex Stewart, who went by the name Alan Baker before being convicted of murder in 2013. Prior convictions for all witnesses were provided, except for Stewart, who appeared to have a clean sheet. Sharon Dowey MSP, Scottish Conservative shadow minister for victims and community safety, warned: 'This appalling shambles, which will rightly enrage the public, demands full accountability and transparency from the Crown Office and Police Scotland. 'This won't be an isolated case' 'We already have dangerous male offenders cynically gaming the system to serve their sentences in women's prisons, and that number is only likely to rise if they spot an opportunity of having their records wiped via this ruse. 'Scotland's justice system, like all our public bodies, has been in thrall to the SNP's reckless gender policy, which the Supreme Court has ruled unlawful. 'We urgently need a directive from John Swinney to public bodies telling them to uphold the Supreme Court ruling.' Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman, added: 'There should be no way to erase a criminal record and we need to ensure there are policies in place to ensure that is the case.' Dr Kate Coleman, of the campaign group Keep Prisons Single Sex, said their research had shown that individuals who switched gender 'are awarded uniquely enhanced individual privacy rights which enable exactly this sort of thing'. She added: 'This won't be an isolated case – this is standard practice north and south of the border. 'It has widespread ramifications, including for safeguarding and the operation of Disclosure Scotland checks. For years we have been calling for urgent changes – not just for the recording of data, but the handling and disclosure of data.' The Daily Record said the scandal came to light during the case of the hairdresser Jayney Sutherley, who killed a man with a pair of scissors. Sutherley, 51, was acquitted at Greenock Sheriff Court last month of carrying out a four-year campaign of transphobic and homophobic abuse against Stewart, 33, and lover Nyomi Fee, 37, a child killer. Both are serving time for murder in HMP Greenock, where Stewart was sent from a male prison after deciding to self-identify as a woman. When disclosure requests were made by Sutherley's defence solicitor, Paul Lynch, for both killers, they returned an accurate record for Fee but a blank sheet for Stewart. A correction was only made after the Crown was told that Stewart was appearing in the witness box as a prisoner and serving a life sentence for murder. A new search under the killer's former name revealed their criminal history, including a conviction for the murder of John Weir, 36. 'Wicked and brutal' attack In Jan 2013, Alan Baker, 25, invited Mr Weir into his home in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, before stabbing him at least 16 times. He claimed to have acted in self-defence but was convicted of murder and attempting to cover up his crime. In Aug 2013, at the High Court in Glasgow, Baker was told he must serve at least 19 years in jail before being eligible for parole. Judge Lord Boyd told Baker he was guilty of a 'wicked and brutal' attack. A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: 'Although the initial witness check showed no previous convictions, on further inquiry by the Procurator Fiscal this was corrected prior to trial. 'Information about previous convictions is provided to COPFS by the police following a check of the relevant databases. 'COPFS have asked Police Scotland to review and confirm the processes for recording and sharing information on previous convictions.'
Daily Record
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
'Abhorrent' prison chiefs forced women to live among trans rapists, killers and paedos
Prison chiefs acted 'abhorrently' by forcing women to live among trans rapists , murderers and paedophiles for more than a decade, it has been claimed. Campaigners say the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) opened the floodgates for violent trans prisoners to switch into female jails in 2014 with scores of violent cons taking advantage of its transgender policy. It led to dozens of transfers for killers such as Sophie Eastwood, Alex Stewart and Paris Green , along with 6ft 5in paedophile Katie Dolatowski into female jails, along with others whose names have been kept under wraps. Double rapist Isla Bryson was sent to all-women Cornton Vale prison near Stirling before a public outcry forced prison bosses into a climbdown by moving him to a male facility. Bryson – previously Adam Graham – had been pictured outside court wearing tight leggings and a blonde wig. Pressure is increasing on First Minister John Swinney to remove violent offenders from women's prisons after the recent Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under UK law. Mary Howden, coordinator of the Women's Rights Network Scotland, called for the 'immediate removal of male prisoners from the female estate'. She added: 'The Scottish Government and Scottish Prison Service have allowed sadistic violent men to be incarcerated with vulnerable women for far too long. "The Supreme Court ruling is very clear that sex refers to biological sex and men should not be in the female estate. It is abhorrent that this was ever allowed.' Judges unanimously upheld an appeal by For Women Scotland against Scottish Government ministers by ruling the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, a decision set to have ramifications for public bodies. There are currently 16 trans inmates behind bars but their placement and convictions are kept under wraps by the SPS. Caroline McAllister, of Women Won't Wheesht, also called on the SNP government to change direction. She said: 'It's beyond time Justice Secretary Angela Constance addressed the failing of vulnerable women in prison under her watch.' The SPS updated its policy last year but caused uproar after it emerged trans criminals with a history of violence against women could be allowed to serve sentences in female jails if deemed not to present an 'unacceptable risk'. It also emerged that violent trans convicts deemed too dangerous for a permanent switch into the female estate could still be allowed to mingle with women in work parties, activities or programmes. The SPS said: 'We received the Supreme Court's judgment and are considering any potential impact it may have.' Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
