A transgender child rapist has been jailed for nine months after bombarding a probation officer with threatening phone calls from inside a top-security men’s prison, a court heard.
Marcia Walker, 51, made the calls from Frankland Prison in Durham where she is held because she is deemed too dangerous for a women’s jail despite being legally recognised as female.
Walker left four voicemails threatening to “get a knife” and harm “a load of men”, the latest in a long line of threats she has made against prison staff, guards and politicians.
History of Violent Threats and Disruption
The convicted sex offender, previously known as Mark Walker, has a disturbing record of making bomb threats and violent warnings whilst in custody.
Walker once threatened to place a nail bomb under a prison governor’s car and have him shot, demonstrating a pattern of extreme intimidation against those responsible for her detention.
She caused chaos at another jail when she used the internal intercom system to falsely claim a bomb would be detonated in the staff car park, forcing evacuations and disrupting operations.
Walker also sent a letter claiming she had dispatched a bomb to Theresa May when she served as Home Secretary, though no device was ever discovered.
Attacks on Prison Staff Over Razors
The transgender inmate attacked a prison guard and threatened to kill another officer when her razors were confiscated, preventing her from shaving.
Those offences took place at Frankland Prison, the same high-security facility where her latest threatening phone calls originated.
Walker admitted sending a communication threatening death or serious harm and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment by Teesside Justices.
Held in Men’s Prison Due to Sex Offence Conviction
Walker was jailed for 13 years in 2003 for raping two girls, one aged just four years old, in horrific attacks that led to her extended sentence.
Despite being legally recognised as female, she cannot be transferred to a women’s prison due to that serious sexual conviction against children, keeping her in the male estate for public safety reasons.
Frankland Prison, where Walker is held, houses some of Britain’s most dangerous criminals including Soham killer Ian Huntley, former police officer Wayne Couzens who murdered Sarah Everard, and Levi Bellfield who killed schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
Segregated from Other Male Prisoners
Walker has been segregated at Frankland, with special arrangements made to keep her separate from the general male prison population.
Other male prisoners must be locked in their cells for 45 minutes whilst Walker washes and eats alone, creating significant operational challenges for prison staff.
The segregation arrangements reflect both security concerns and the complex issues surrounding housing transgender offenders with histories of sexual violence.
Pattern of Threatening Behaviour
The case highlights Walker’s consistent pattern of making threats and causing disruption throughout her lengthy incarceration.
Her willingness to threaten violence against staff, make false bomb threats, and intimidate officials demonstrates the challenges prison authorities face managing dangerous offenders with histories of extreme behaviour.
The probation officer targeted in the latest incident would have been conducting routine supervision duties when subjected to the threatening voicemails.
Sentencing and Additional Time
The nine-month sentence imposed by Teesside magistrates will be added to Walker’s existing custody time, extending her period of incarceration.
Courts take threats against probation officers and prison staff extremely seriously, as such intimidation undermines the justice system and puts public servants at risk.
The conviction for sending communications threatening death or serious harm reflects the severity with which the criminal justice system treats such behaviour, particularly from those already serving sentences for violent crimes.
Ongoing Challenges of Managing Dangerous Offenders
Walker’s case illustrates the complex challenges facing the prison system in managing transgender offenders convicted of serious sexual offences.
The decision to house her in a men’s facility despite legal recognition as female prioritises public safety and the protection of vulnerable women prisoners who could be at risk.
However, the segregation requirements create operational difficulties and resource pressures for Frankland Prison staff who must maintain separation between Walker and other inmates.
As Walker continues serving her extended sentence, prison authorities must balance her rights as a transgender person with their duty to protect staff, other prisoners and the public from her demonstrated propensity for threats and violence.
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