Transgender Patient Jailed for Four-Year Stalking Campaign Against Surgeon
A transgender woman who engaged in a prolonged stalking campaign against the surgeon who performed her gender reassignment surgery has been sentenced to prison. Vivienne Taylor, 28, admitted to stalking Dr. Tina Rashid in actions that spanned four years, severely impacting the surgeon's professional, family, and social life.
Court Hears Details of Obsessive Behaviour and Threats
At Isleworth Crown Court this week, it was revealed that Taylor, from Wirral, Cheshire, began exhibiting strange behaviour shortly after undergoing reassignment surgery in Putney, London, in 2021. Initially, she brought Dr. Rashid a cake as a gesture of thanks and stored dozens of photos of the surgeon on her phone before being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Taylor was later admitted to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with complications and insisted on being treated exclusively by Dr. Rashid, threatening to take her own life if her demand was not met. Judge Giles Curtis-Raleigh noted that Taylor developed a fixation on Dr. Rashid, despite their relationship being strictly professional.
The stalking involved Taylor appearing unannounced at Dr. Rashid's hospital, falsely claiming to be under her care, sending unwanted emails suggesting they catch up, and attempting to connect on LinkedIn. In one particularly alarming incident, Taylor sent a threatening message vowing to batter the highly respected surgeon.
Surgeon's Life Disrupted by Fear and Anxiety
In her victim impact statement, Dr. Rashid described suffering from anxiety most days and fearing for her safety due to Taylor's obsession. She took extreme precautions, including wearing a cap or hood to avoid recognition, staying late at the office, and spending £60 on Uber rides to evade her former patient.
I have considered very carefully whether I was in a fit state to operate safely and if I would have to wake that patient up before their surgery, Dr. Rashid said. She also expressed fear for her young children's safety, adding that the arrest of Taylor in November 2025 provided a freeing feeling.
The judge read aloud a final threatening and aggressive message from Taylor, which targeted Dr. Rashid and her partner: I'm going to batter both of you evil c**** and make you suffer.
Sentencing and Prison Placement Dispute
Judge Curtis-Raleigh sentenced Taylor to 14 months in prison and ordered her to pay a £187 victim surcharge. While Taylor showed some element of remorse, the judge expressed concern that she also attempted to blame Dr. Rashid for her imprisonment, indicating limited and fluctuating insight into her actions. This included efforts to contact Dr. Rashid from custody to persuade her to drop the charges.
The court heard that Taylor has experienced mental health breakdowns and moved back to London to escape domestic abuse, but her actions impinged on every aspect of Dr. Rashid's life. While in custody last month, Taylor demanded transfer from the category B male prison HMP Wandsworth to an all-women facility, citing her female recognition certificate.
I am a female, and should be treated as such, Taylor argued, requesting placement at HMP Bronzefield or another female establishment. However, Judge Hannah Duncan stated that Taylor had no say in her placement, leaving the decision to qualified authorities.
