Trans woman who failed to disclose gender guilty of sexual assault

Ciara Watkin spent the night with a man at a house in Thornaby after exchanging messages on Snapchat.

After drinking and chatting the pair went to the bedroom where Watkin performed sex acts on the man, but told him she was on her period so he did not touch her below the waist.

It was only after another meeting that Watkin revealed she was transgender and had male genitalia.

The victim told the Teesside Crown Court he did not believe Watkin was a trans woman and said the revelation left him feeling sick.

A jury today (August 22) found Watkin guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one of assault by penetration.

Revelation left victim 'feeling sick'

Prosecutors argued Watkin tricker her victim and he would not have consented had he known she was trans.

Ciara Watkin, 21, at Teesside Crown Court (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

The court heard how his mother suspected Watkin was trans, but did not say anything to her son.

His friends came to his house and also suspected Watkin was born male, jurors were told.

Following the encounter, Watkin initially blocked all contact with the man but eventually got back in touch with him, before telling him over text that she was trans.

The complainant said this revelation left him feeling sick, telling police that he “didn’t swing that way”.

Watkin, who has not had gender realignment surgery, wanted to be female from the age of seven, the court heard.

She told police she realised if the man believed she was trans, the relationship would have ended.

Summing up the case before the jury retired, the judge said the Crown’s case “could not be more straight forward”.

He said: “Ciara Watkin made full admissions in her interviews with police. They say there is no question she set out to deceive him as to her true gender.

“That was done to secure sexual relations with (him).”

The defence case was that Watkin made the admission to police because she wanted to be seen as a woman.

The judge said: “The defence say this is an accused person who has fooled herself into believing she successfully deceived (him).

“She so wants to be female, she has actually fooled herself.”

The judge said the defence had argued that the victim realised Watkin was trans “from the outset” and he had lied “to avoid the ridicule of his friends”.

The judge further summarised the defence case as: “Whatever Ciara might believe about successfully fooling (him), she is so obviously male, he couldn’t have been fooled.”

Watkin was granted bail but the judge said “jail was the overwhelming likelihood”. She will be sentenced on October 10. 

Recorder Peter Makepeace KC thanked the jury for their consideration of these “serious matters” and ordered a pre-sentence report, adding a psychiatric report may be needed.

The judge urged the prison authorities to consider the “very real management issues” that jailing the defendant will pose.

Ciara Watkin, 21, at Teesside Crown Court (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Sarah Nelson, senior crown prosecutor at CPS North East, said: “It is clear from the evidence in this case that, prior to engaging in sexual activity with the victim, Watkin had made no attempt to inform him of her transgender status.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has shown that, by failing to disclose this to him, it would not have been possible for him to give informed consent to sexual activity.

“The victim has made clear in police interview that he would not have engaged in sexual activity had he known that Watkin was transgender and, consequently, these events have had a significant impact on his mental wellbeing.

“We hope that he can take some comfort from seeing Watkin convicted for these serious sexual offences today.”