Girl abducted in Galashiels appears to have been held by transwoman

[ArabellaScott]

reduxx.info/scotland-crossdressing-butcher-arrested-in-case-of-missing-child/

Only source so far, but appears to be potentially corroborated by the Sun:

www.thesun.co.uk/news/21308457/cops-search-butchers-and-forensics-scour-for-evidence/

Does that mean he has already chances by name and, erm, things?

I have been wondering when we'd hwar about sentencing. Has he fast tracked his GRC and now bound by cloak of invisibility?

As many ID documents don't need a GRC to be changed, I guess this loophole really is open to anyone! It makes sense that the TRAs were still looking at self ID for a GRC as that is almost (or is?) the last piece of the puzzle in updating legal documents. Does a GRC take effect as a new birth certificate? If an organisation requesting the DBS insisted on it, that would be the giveaway for anyone without a GRC.

What a mess.

It's sadly not even necessary for a GRC to become hidden: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64624921
Frustratingly, safeguarding just doesn't seem important.

This is honestly so frightening. What can we do? Practical question. Has the government published the reports mentioned in the article yet?

This is the High Court where Miller's case was previously heard; I imagine it would be the same court that hands down the judgement.

https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/high-court

The 'Contempt of Court' page has info on cases that have reporting restrictions.

https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-notices/contempt-of-court-orders

'AB and CD for JR (under section 46 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 and section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981), Court of Session Edinburgh, 16 August 2023'

I want to stress this could be any case, of course, but the date is close (judgement for Miller's case was expected on the 15th of August).

I wonder if Contempt of court order has been made? If so, I guess we won't hear a thing about it.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-cannot-rule-out-30013396

'Responding on Twitter, former Glasgow Labour MP Tom Harris said: "This case is no longer "active", the accused having been convicted. Public comment, therefore, is allowed."'

Humza tried to claim that he couldn't comment as the case was 'live'. This wasn't the case, as Harris points out above.

Humza refused to rule out Miller being sent to a woman's prison. Although it seems the rules are being reviewed post pink leggings:

'any trans offender with a history of violence against women – including sexual offences – will not be relocated from the male to the female estate until a series of reviews into the Bryson case are completed'

The word "Trans" just feels like a holdall in that statement.
Trans offender could be male or female. You definitely want to relocate the female trans offenders to female prisons... and it is the male ones you want to keep out review...

@ArabellaScott Ooof. Looks like it could be doesn't it? As a local parent I'd really like to know what happened. I appreciate I don't need to l know but I'd like to. Just like I'd like to know more info about the guy down my street who recently served time for rape & is now crossing boundaries with various women in the area. I've told my ASD Dd (16) she can't walk down that street now, & all her friends at school are talking about it. Just like Mincing Millar was known for years as a problem locally. I didn't have faith in our justice system before men could be put in women's prisons. I have even less now.

I think a lot of people would like to know whether he's gone to prison and for how long, and which prison. Or at least, that he's not in prison with women.

That sounds very worrying. I encourage you to record any incidences of 'crossing boundaries' and report them to the police. If he was in prison for rape, he will presumably have restrictions on his release?

@ArabellaScott I don't know if it's 'reportable'? I bought an item on FB marketplace from this person's mother (whom I knew by sight from living along the road for 15 years). When I went to collect it (bulky-ish) the man invited me in. It felt 'off' (he was VERY intense) & I said, no it's okay, I'll take it as seen. He then insisted he drive me home with it. I said, no. Then: 'I recognise you, you live around the corner with your 2 children. I'll walk you home'. I said: 'I think you're mistaking me for someone else' & left. So, creepy but not remotely criminal.
Two days later a dog walker I know by sight said to me: 'did I see you coming out of that house? I said I'd been on the doorstep but hadn't gone in. She said: 'thank goodness, you do know he was inside for Rape don't you?' (I hadn't known or I would not have gone to the house tho' I was dealing with his Mother & didnt know he existed until that point). However I have a friend whose garden backs into his & her washing has been tampered with (smalls going missing).
I wonder if I can use 'Sarah's Law' to look him up? (I'm in Scotland).
I appreciate he has 'done his time' but women in the village are nervous. Obviously he isn't Andrew Millar but he spent years 'pushing boundaries' too.

(sorry, don't mean to de-rail thread!)

I would be reporting the smalls going missing, for sure - but I guess that's up to your friend.

And your encounter definitely sound hugely unnerving.

I'm not sure what the rules are around making an enquiry - I think it's for when someone has access to children.

I suppose the police would be able to tell you?

https://www.scotland.police.uk/secureforms/child-safety/

If this man has said to you that he recognises you and/or your children, and knows where you live, it might be worth talking to them? I don't honestly know, I'm sorry.

@medianewbie

Definitely report any and all incidents of his disturbing behaviour. Speak to your friends and neighbours and try to encourage them to do so, too. He may well be in breach of his licence, or probation conditions.

@ArabellaScott @SinnerBoy
Thank you both for this helpful advice.
I don't want to derail the thread or make a direct comparison to AM, it's just the sense of the community being aware of lots of 'minor' things that can suddenly escalate to a criminal act as it has done with both these men on the past. It rarely comes out of nowhere.

Yes, escalation is a feature of these types of offenders. It's quite a few years ago now, but in our last house, the neighbour opposite kept exposing himself to my wife.

I asked neighbours - she was too embarrassed and stressed to want to do anything. There were a load who had been subjected to the same thing. In the end, four women, including my wife, reported him and he turned out to be a serial offender.

They all gave mutual moral support to one another, none would have complained alone, so it's well worth joining forces.

Miller hasn't been sentenced yet, case delayed until October. Don't know why but it happens when the court is waiting for background reports from social work etc.

Thanks, that's helpful to know

Where do you get that info from @Form1ess ?

@Forwarder I'm not going to be specific about how I know but i asked someone, not involved in the case, but with legal knowledge. I'm not Dorothy Bain or anything exciting like that.

@Form1ess thanks

But given the circumstances, the delay in sentencing does raise alarms that this man might be allowed to use the secrecy GRC to disappear. I'm sure Humza Yousaf would be very happy for that to happen.

Sentencing is on Wednesday

www.scotcourts.gov.uk/current-business/court-rolls/court-roll?id=0f789df8-adf6-43f8-9560-5c0bba96edcd

Thank you. I hope he goes away for a very, very long time.

And for the love of fuck, to a male prison.