A Transgender murderer was escorted out of prison to have thousands of pounds worth of cosmetic surgery, the Sunday Mail can reveal.
Alex Stewart has admitted having an adam’s apple reduction operation to look more feminine while behind bars at Greenock prison.
The 36-year-old, born male Alan Baker, changed gender in 2016 after being jailed three years earlier for murdering dad-of-two John Weir.
Six years into a life sentence in 2019, Stewart’s request to have the cosmetic surgery was approved. Sources have said the operation took place at taxpayers’ expense on the NHS but the Scottish Prison Service have refused to confirm details.
Susan Smith, of campaign group For Women Scotland, said: “We are very disturbed to learn that a dangerous prisoner was allowed out to seek unnecessary cosmetic surgery.
“Yet again, we see favourable double standards are applied to prisoners who adopt a trans identity. We doubt that a female murderer would be allowed day release for botox or a nose job.
“There are critical questions now that the prison service must answer, not least how was this funded and at what cost to the taxpayer?
“At a time when resources are stretched both for prison and health services, this looks like a profligate indulgence of a manipulative man.
“It’s an interesting choice of surgery in that it’s probably the least invasive and least likely to result in material feminisation. We can’t help suspecting that it was a way to ‘prove’ his trans identity without going too far.”
Also known as a tracheal shave, the procedure reduces the prominence of the adam’s apple in the neck, and is carried out for aesthetic reasons.
Stewart said he’d had the surgery during a court hearing last week, saying: “I have undergone a tracheal shave in 2019. I have had no other medical surgery.”
Scottish Conservative shadow equalities minister Tess White MSP said: “Taxpayers will be outraged if it emerges that public money was used to fund cosmetic surgery for a convicted murderer.
“SNP cuts have left overstretched staff at the mercy of dangerous inmates. It’s just common sense that prison officers shouldn’t be escorting inmates offsite for non-essential procedures.
“SNP ministers must come clean about who paid for this operation and whether this dangerous criminal was allowed to travel and stay overnight for it.”
A tracheal shave can under special circumstances fall under ‘gender affirming’ surgery and would be paid for by the NHS.
Referrals for gender affirming surgery are processed on behalf of NHS Scotland by the Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Service (GDNRSS), which is operated by NHS England.
The closest available centres to HMP Greenock where Stewart is held are based in Newcastle – more than 170 miles away – or in Nottingham – more than 300 miles away and an 11 hour round trip.
Convicted prisoners like Stewart, would also be required to be accompanied from prison by staff and transferred by prisoner transport service GeoAmey.
Stewart’s other option would be to spend £7000 to have the operation carried out privately – something which would be allowed under prison rules.
Details of the operation emerged during a sheriff led trial at Greenock Sheriff Court last week where Stewart and notorious child killer lover, Nyomi Fee, claimed to have been subjected to a four-year hate campaign in jail by a fellow inmate.
Hairdresser Jayney Sutherley, who killed a man with scissors, faces charges of persecuting Stewart and Fee with abusive remarks between 2019 and 2023.
Fee, who killed her toddler step son, and Stewart have accused prisoner Sutherley of branding them “the trannie and the beast”.
In cross-examination defence lawyer Paul Lynch asked if Stewart had undergone gender reassignment surgery to which the tracheal shave operation was revealed in a reply.
Stewart knifed John Weir, 36, in the chest at least 14 times just hours after meeting him on a dating website.
The killer, of Bonhill, Dunbartonshire then bagged up the victim’ clothes, boots and mobile phone before dumping them nearby.
In 2016, it was revealed that Stewart was living as a woman behind bars and wore a padded bra and make-up on the female wing.
Stewart and Fee, a lesbian, became a couple in December 2019, the court heard.
Nyomi Fee, 37, is serving 24 years after she and civil partner Rachel Trelfa, 34, were convicted for killing Trelfa’s son Liam in 2014 following a horrific campaign of neglect and abuse.
Sutherley was jailed for six years in 2020 for the culpable homicide of Alistair MacFadyen in a flat in Paisley.
The single charge against her claims she behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, using transphobic and homophobic insults and threats of violence.
She is also accused of inciting others to utter offensive remarks and make spurious complaints.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow (Mon).
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “We take an individualised approach to the management of transgender people and our staff work hard to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of all people in our care.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said it was a matter for the prison service.
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