A TRANSGENDER killer’s criminal record was “wiped clean” after the thug started identifying as a woman.
Alexandria Stewart was named Alan Baker when he was convicted of murdering of a man a decade ago – and is now serving time in a women’s prison.
John KirkbyThe mishap came to light following an incident at HMP Greenock[/caption]
After transitioning and changing his name behind bars while serving a life sentence, disclosure checks show the 37-year-old no longer had a criminal record.
Police Scotland and the Crown Office are facing calls for an urgent review amid the major gaffe.
Campaigners have labelled the mishap a “dereliction of duty” by the authorities involved and demand to know how many others have been able to hide their convictions by changing gender.
It came to light after a solicitor requested a straightforward previous convictions disclosure from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal’s Service in relation to witnesses – all serving prisoners – involved in a case of alleged conflict inside HMP Greenock.
All such information on the lags was provided – apart from Stewart who’s been able to distance himself from his past due to the name change.
Stewart was jailed for 19 years for knifing dad-of-two John Weir.
In 2016, it was revealed the prisoner was living as a woman and wearing a padded bra, make up and female wig.
It comes after the Supreme Court‘s landmark ruling defining all people’s sex by their biology.
Susan Smith, of For Women Scotland, said it is a “terrifying example of the sort of consequences which follow when people are allowed to lie about their sex”.
Referring to the ruling, she added: “This was only picked up because of the obvious absurdity that an incarnated murderer had a clean rap sheet.
“But how many other former prisoners have been able to hide their criminal past in this way?
“We know that rapists and child sex offenders, who may have been released, have taken advantage of self-identification policies in prison.
“Women and parents will be horrified to learn that these men may, even now, be out in the community and taking advantage of their whitewashed record.”
MSP Sharon Dowey, Scottish Conservative spokesperson for victims and community safety, has questioned whether Stewart’s case is an “unacceptable blunder” or a more widespread issue.
She said: “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.
“The Alan Baker case represents a dereliction of duty by Police Scotland and the Crown Office.
“What has unfolded is not only deeply insulting to the victim’s family, it lays bare again the stark reality of both the SNP’s soft-touch justice agenda, which panders to criminals, and their unlawful gender self-ID policy.”
A COPFS spokesman said: “Although the initial witness check showed no previous convictions, on further inquiry by the Procurator Fiscal this was corrected prior to trial.”
The spokesman said talks would take place between both organisations.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Work is ongoing to prevent something similar taking place.”
Alan Baker murdered a dad-of-two before transitioning to Alexandria Stewart Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
