A trans killer had their criminal record wiped clean after declaring themselves to be a woman behind bars.
Alexandria Stewart, convicted as Alan Baker when he murdered a man more than a decade ago, apparently had no criminal record according to official disclosure checks.
But Stewart’s past was only revealed after it was pointed out that the 37-year-old was a prisoner serving a life sentence.
Campaigners and politicians have reacted with fury at the revelation and have branded it a ‘dereliction of duty’ from authorities involved.
They have now demanded to know how many others have been able to hide their criminal records by changing their gender.
The Conservatives said Scotland’s justice system had ‘been in thrall to the SNP’s reckless gender policy, which the Supreme Court has ruled unlawful’.
Susan Smith, from For Women Scotland, said it was a ‘terrifying example of the sort of consequences which follow when people are allowed to lie about their sex’.
Ms Smith, who is part of the group responsible for the landmark Supreme Court ruling which states sex is defined by biology and not gender choices, said: ‘This was only picked up because of the obvious absurdity that an incarnated murderer had a clean rap sheet.
‘But how many other former prisoners have been able to hide their criminal past in this way?
‘We know that rapists and child sex offenders, who may have been released, have taken advantage of self-identification policies in prison.
‘Women and parents will be horrified to learn that these men may, even now, be out in the community and taking advantage of their whitewashed record..’
And Sharon Dowey, Scottish Conservative spokesman for victims and community safety, demanded to know whether it was an ‘unacceptable blunder’ or if it has happened to other criminals.
The MSP said: ‘We already have dangerous male offenders cynically gaming the system to serve their sentences in women’s prisons, and that number is only likely to rise if they spot an opportunity of having their records wiped via this ruse.
‘Scotland’s justice system, like all our public bodies, has been in thrall to the SNP’s reckless gender policy, which the Supreme Court has ruled unlawful.
‘We urgently need a directive from John Swinney to public bodies telling them to uphold the Supreme Court ruling.
‘The Alan Baker case represents a dereliction of duty by Police Scotland and the Crown Office.
‘What has unfolded is not only deeply insulting to the victim’s family, it lays bare again the stark reality of both the SNP’s soft-touch justice agenda, which panders to criminals, and their unlawful gender self-ID policy.’
The scandal came to light amid the case of hairdresser Jane Sutherley, who killed a man with a pair of scissors, who was accused of a four year abuse campaign against Stewart and child killer lover Nyomi Fee.
But when disclosure requests were made accurate records returned for Fee but a blank sheet for Stewart, the Daily Record reported.
A correction was only made after the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) were told that Stewart was appearing in the witness box as a prisoner and serving a life sentence for murder.
Stewart, a biological man, is now serving time in a women’s prison.
Last month Sutherley, behind bars for culpable homicide, was acquitted of being abusive and deliberately misgendering Stewart following a trial at Greenock Sheriff Court.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We are aware of an issue relating to the previous convictions of a victim, which were omitted from a report submitted ahead of a case heard at Greenock Sheriff Court.
‘The issue has been rectified and work is ongoing to prevent similar scenarios taking place in the future. Officers are continuing to liaise with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.’
And the Crown Office said that information on previous convictions was provided by the police ‘following a check of the relevant databases’.
Its spokesman said: ‘Although the initial witness check showed no previous convictions, on further inquiry by the procurator fiscal this was corrected prior to trial.
‘COPFS have asked Police Scotland to review and confirm the process for recording and sharing information on previous convictions.’