JK Rowling has offered to help a female prisoner who was sexually assaulted by a transgender inmate in a women-only wing of a Scottish prison. The Harry Potter author, known for her gender-critical views, spoke out after the attack at HMP Greenock in Inverclyde.
Incident Details
Alexandra Stewart, previously known as Alan Baker, allegedly ambushed a fellow convict in a hairdressing salon within the female-only area of the jail. Police confirmed a 38-year-old has been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. Stewart changed gender after being convicted, having been born a man, according to the Daily Record.
Rowling's Response
Rowling extended an offer of assistance to the victim from a legal aid fund she runs to support 'women protecting their sex-based rights'. In a statement on X, she said: 'The Scottish government is responsible for this sexual assault. The Supreme Court has confirmed women's right to single sex spaces, a ruling the SNP continues to flout. If the victim wishes to sue, jkrwf.org can assist with all costs.'
Official Statements
A Police Scotland spokesperson 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.' The Crown Office has not yet received a report. A Scottish Prison Service (SPS) spokesperson declined to comment due to ongoing proceedings. A Scottish Government spokesperson stated: 'Any attacks on prisoners or prison staff are completely unacceptable and incidents involving alleged criminality are reported to Police Scotland.'
Background on the Accused
Stewart was jailed for life in 2013 for fatally stabbing father-of-two John Weir 16 times at his home in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, after meeting online. The prisoner has been held at HMP Greenock as a woman since 2016, which a source said has been 'a sickener for most women' in the jail. Stewart is said to have been segregated after the SPS notified police of allegations, and reportedly received 'tracheal shave' surgery while behind bars.
Campaigner Reactions
Susan Smith, director of For Women Scotland (FWS), hoped the incident would make prison bosses and the government 'wake up' and end their 'dangerous and stupid experiment' with mixed-sex jails. She said it has had a 'severe impact' on female prisoners' rights and posed 'a clear and constant risk of state-sanctioned sexual assault'. Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski argued transgender inmates born as men should be allowed in women's prisons, suggesting focus should shift from 'very niche cases' to assessing inmates case-by-case. He urged Rowling to have more compassion, adding transgender people 'just want to pee in peace'.
Legal Context
FWS, which Rowling has supported, won a landmark Supreme Court case last year defining 'woman' in the Equality Act as a biological woman and 'sex' as biological sex. The Scottish government's previous approach to gender was labelled 'unworkable'. Ministers said they respected the ruling but argued it did not override European Convention on Human Rights protections. Under current guidance, a transgender woman can be held in a female jail if she has not hurt or threatened women or girls and poses no unacceptable risk. The SPS uses individual risk assessments. This policy is being challenged by FWS, which argues it is incompatible with the Supreme Court ruling. The campaign group applied for a judicial review, which the SNP government challenged at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in February. The court has not yet issued its final ruling.
Broader Implications
The incident follows a public outcry in 2023 when transgender double rapist Isla Bryson was initially sent to a female prison. Another inmate, Paris Green, was moved from the women's wing to the men's at HMP Polmont last month. The SPS says transgender, non-binary, or gender-fluid inmates make up less than one per cent of the Scottish prison population, with only about 19 such prisoners at the end of June last year. Stewart is believed to be one of only two transgender inmates legally classed as male left in the female estate.
Rowling first faced criticism for her gender-critical views in 2018 when she liked a post describing trans women as 'men in dresses'. Her spokesperson called it a 'clumsy middle-aged moment'. Since then, she has campaigned to protect women's rights, fuelled by her own experiences of domestic abuse, opposing Scottish legislation to make it easier for transgender people to change their legal gender, and providing financial support to those challenging transgender legal status in court.
