Isla Bryson

A transgender woman from Clydebank, Isla Bryson, has been convicted of two counts of rape following a six-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The offences occurred in 2016 and 2019, when Bryson was living as a man under the name Adam Graham. Prosecutors described how Bryson preyed on vulnerable women she met online, leading to violent sexual assaults.

The first incident took place in Clydebank in 2016. Bryson, who was going through the breakdown of an unhappy marriage, stayed at the victim's mother's house. On the night of the attack, Bryson locked the victim's bedroom door, which the 30-year-old victim described as unusual. In pre-recorded video evidence, the victim recounted being raped for approximately half an hour, repeatedly saying 'no' and feeling terrified and sick. She stated, 'All I said was 'no' over and over and over again. At the time I was so scared. Sick to the stomach. I just didn't know what was going on.' Bryson later threatened harm to the victim's family if she disclosed the assault.

The second rape occurred in Drumchapel in June 2019. Bryson met the 34-year-old victim on the social media app Bigo, where she used the name DJ Blade. They met in person days after chatting online, and the following day, at the victim's home while watching television, the assault began. The victim consented to an initial sex act but asked Bryson to stop. However, Bryson continued, ignoring pleas as she felt 'crushed' and was told to 'stay there' because Bryson 'wasn't finished'. The victim testified via live video-link: 'I said to stop but he just kept on going, and that's when I just closed my eyes and I am doing what he wanted to do.' In her defence, Bryson claimed both women had consented to sex and denied any wrongdoing, stating she 'would never hurt another human being'.

Bryson, who knew she was transgender from age four but transitioned at 29 and is now on hormones seeking surgery, gave evidence about struggling with her sexuality in 2016. The jury deliberated for less than a day, unanimously convicting her of the 2019 rape and by majority for the 2016 offence. Judge Lord Scott addressed Bryson in court, saying: 'You have been convicted by the jury of two extremely serious charges, those being charges of rape.' He described the crimes as 'considerable' and warned that 'a significant sentence is inevitable'. Bryson's bail was revoked, and she was remanded in custody until 28 February 2023 for background reports before sentencing. The court noted Bryson has three minor prior convictions, none involving prison time.

This case, reported by Glasgow Live on 24 January 2023, highlights the prosecution's emphasis on Bryson's targeting of vulnerable individuals online. Police Scotland investigated the complaints, leading to the charges.