Trans prisoner known for violence found dead after move to women’s jail blocked
A transgender prisoner who was considered one of Scotland’s most dangerous inmates has been found dead in her cell after her move to a women’s prison was blocked.
Tiffany Scott, who was previously known as Andrew Burns, died in HMP Grampian on Thursday.
The 32-year-old’s became unwell and was taken to hospital, but her death is being treated as ‘unexplained’ by police.
Scott was convicted of stalking a 13-year-old girl in 2013 and had requested to be moved to the female prison estate early last year.
She became ill on Wednesday night and died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary the following day.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said that at around 10.50pm on Wednesday, the force was made aware of a 32-year-old taking unwell at HMP Grampian.
They added: ‘The death is being treated as unexplained and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.’
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: ‘Tiffany Scott, 32, of HMP Grampian, died on February 29.
‘With each death in custody, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.’
The revelation that Scott could be moved to the female estate prompted a row around the handling of transgender prisoners last year, when the Scottish Government was urged to make a statement to clarify its position on housing transgender prisoners.
Then justice secretary Keith Brown denied Scott would be moved to the female estate and announced an urgent review into the handling of transgender prisoners, which also included double rapist Isla Bryson.
In 2017 Falkirk Sheriff Court was locked down after Scott was sentenced over a series of violent incidents in Glenochil Prison in Clackmannanshire.
This includes hitting a prison nurse with a chair, punching an officer in the face and spitting and biting at another.
Scott had applied to move from a male jail to a women’s wing, but it was blocked following the backlash to the Isla Bryson case.
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