Transgender Woman Jailed for Stalking Surgeon Held in Surrey Women’s Prison
A transgender woman jailed for stalking the surgeon who performed her gender reassignment is now held at a women’s prison in Surrey — sparking a political stir.
Vivienne Taylor’s Four-Year Harassment Campaign
Vivienne Taylor, 28, was sentenced to 14 months last March at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to stalking and causing serious alarm. Her victim? Consultant urological surgeon Dr Tina Rashid, who carried out Taylor’s surgery in Putney in 2021.
The case began innocuously, with Taylor sending Dr Rashid a thank-you cake. But what followed was described in court as a “fixation.” Taylor bombarded the surgeon with messages, showed up repeatedly at her workplace, and collected dozens of photos of her.
- Unsolicited emails urging to “catch up”
- Attempts to connect via LinkedIn
- A violent threat to “batter” Dr Rashid
- Demands for exclusive medical care during hospitalisation
Dr Rashid was left living in fear, suffering daily anxiety and fearing for her safety. The judge imposed an “exceptional” restraining order with no expiry date.
Locked Up in Surrey’s Special Trans Unit
Taylor is now incarcerated at HMP Downview in Surrey, located in E Wing — a specialist unit for transgender women. The Ministry of Justice calls it unique, designed for transgender prisoners deemed too high-risk for the general female population but vulnerable in the male estate.
Prisoners in this wing are kept separate but may join supervised activities with other inmates under strict conditions.
MP Demands Answers on Prison Placement
Conservative MP Rebecca Paul has demanded urgent clarification over Taylor’s placement in a women’s prison unit.
“I am urgently looking into this situation,” Paul said.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson confirmed the specialised unit’s existence, stressing it is “isolated from the main female population.”
