A transgender woman concealing her biological sex from a man she spent time with has been sentenced to 21 months in prison. Ciara Watkin, 21, engaged in sexual acts with the man at a residence in Thornaby, Yorkshire, some years ago, but prevented him from touching her. She later confessed via text that she had a significant secret to reveal: “I’m trans. I apologize for not informing you.”
The man reported Watkin to the authorities, leading to her conviction in August for two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. Feeling deceived and emasculated, the man shared that he connected with Watkin on Snapchat and believed she was a biological female throughout their interaction until the truth was revealed.
Sarah Nelson, Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS North East, emphasized that Watkin failed to disclose her transgender status to the victim before engaging in sexual activity, preventing him from providing informed consent. The victim expressed that he would not have consented to sexual activity if he had known about Watkin’s transgender identity, significantly impacting his mental well-being.
Victoria Lamballe, Watkin’s defense counsel, highlighted that she had not undergone gender reassignment surgery and had used padding in her bra. Watkin disclosed her transgender status to the man over the phone after their initial meeting, acknowledging that the relationship might have ended if he had known earlier.
Detective Constable Martin Scotson, the investigating officer, pointed out that Watkin intentionally misled the victim about her biological sex to facilitate sexual activity, depriving him of the opportunity to make an informed decision. He urged other victims of sexual offenses to seek support and report incidents to the authorities.
Individuals who have experienced sexual abuse can contact the Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for assistance and guidance, even if the offense has not been reported to the police. SARC crisis workers are available 24/7 at 03333448283 for immediate support.
