Transgender killer who strangled cellmate with shoelaces identifying as ‘at risk’ baby
A transgender prisoner who strangled her cellmate to death is worried she “would not survive” if she was transferred to a male prison.
Sophie Eastwood, 38, who identifies as a baby, is serving a life sentence after killing another inmate with a pair of shoelaces.
A month before her release from Dumfries Young Offenders Institution in 2004, Sophie strangled 22-year-old Paul Algie.
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Sophie was assigned male at birth but started transitioning while behind bars and has now been an inmate at Cornton Vale women’s prison since 2017.
(Image: Daily Record)
Now she’s concerned about being at risk from sexual violence were she to be moved back to a male prison following a Scottish Prison Service review of transgender prisoners.
Sophie has served 19 of the minimum 15 years required for release but so far has not been considered for freedom.
She has been administered a dummy by prison guards after her identification as a baby.
Sophie has asked that whenever she leaves her cell, guards hold her hand – a request the MailOnline says has been respected.
She told the Daily Record : “The main threat was that I would suffer serious sexual violence.
(Image: Perthshire Picture Agency)
“It was a relief to be moved to the female estate where I have felt safe and I’ve gained the trust of fellow prisoners.
“I think Scottish Prison Service staff manage trans prisoners well but it would be impossible for me to feel safe in a male prison.
“I have no history of gender violence. But the recent outcry has led to the SPS having to review every transgender person in custody.
“I believe I’m in the right place and don’t think I could survive in the male estate.”
The Scottish Prison Service has announced that it is carrying out full case-by-case reviews of all transgender prisoners following the high-profile moving of double rapist Isla Bryson to a male wing in Cornton Vale.
Eastwood and Bryson had shared facilities, but now Eastwood claims that Bryson has exploited the system.
She added: “It’s really unfortunate because the public’s view of trans people generally has now been damaged but not by the behaviour of any trans person.”
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