A transgender woman, Ciara Watkin (21), has been sentenced to 21 months in jail after a man reported that he would not have consented to sexual activity if he had known she was biologically male.
The case, heard at Durham Crown Court, hinged on the issue of informed consent. Watkin was found guilty of sexual assault after a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The Deception and Victim Impact
- The Deception: Watkin and the victim, both 18 at the time, met on Snapchat, where Watkin used a female cartoon profile picture. The court heard Watkin, who was born male and had not undergone surgery or medical treatment, told the man she was on her period to prevent him from touching her below the waist.
- Victim’s Statement: In a statement read to the court, the victim—who identified as a heterosexual male—said he was “physically sick” when Watkin revealed what she called her “massive secret.” He felt “ashamed and embarrassed” and that part of his masculinity had been taken away. He stated he would never have consented to sexual activity with a man.
- The Ruling: Recorder Peter Makepeace KC stated he was “certain” the victim “fully believed from start to finish” that Watkin was a birth female due to her “lies and deception.” The judge concluded that Watkin knew the man would not have consented had he known she was a “birth male” with male genitalia.
Mitigation and Sentencing
Watkin’s defence argued her actions were driven by gender dysphoria and a desire to be loved as the person she perceives herself to be, rather than malicious intent. They noted she had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and had been “bullied and ridiculed” for her presentation.
However, the judge noted Watkin had appeared “flippant,” disinterested, and showed “not a shred of remorse” during the trial, even attempting to blame the victim. The judge said the core of the offence was Watkin’s “frustration at wanting sexual experiences with heterosexual males” which she needed to “deceive to achieve.”
Watkin will serve her sentence in a men’s prison, with measures in place to “minimise the risk” to her. She must also sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and is banned from contacting the victim for life.
Det Con Martin Scotson of Cleveland Police welcomed the conclusion, emphasizing that Watkin “purposely concealed her sex in order for the sexual activity to take place.”
Source: BBC
