Trans woman jailed for hiding male genitalia from partner during sex | UK | News
Ciara Watkin is jailed at Durham Crown (Image: PA)
A man admitted he felt humiliated after receiving sexual intercourse from a biological male who he thought was a woman.
21-year-old trans woman Ciara Watkin was sentenced to 21 months in prison for hiding her male genitalia during the night she spent with a man she met on the social media platform Snapchat.
Watkin, who suffers from gender dysphoria, deceived a young man into believing he was being sexted by a woman at a house in Thornaby, Teesside.
Watkin had sexual intercourse with the man after telling him not to touch her below the waist because she was on her period.
Following the trial, police referred to Watkin with female pronouns while describing the defendant as “biologically male.”
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The defendant was previously found guilty of three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Sentencing at Durham Crown Court, recorder Peter Makepeace KC said he was sure the victim, who was 18 at the time, was convinced Watkin was a woman.
The teenager felt sick and began gagging when Watkin later sent a “big secret” message to his phone that he was born a boy, the hearing heard.
The court heard Watkin, of Walton Street, Stockton, was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and was attracted to heterosexual men.
The defendant must remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a lifetime restraining order preventing him from approaching his victim, who has not been identified by the media.
Following the case, investigating officer Detective Constable Martin Scotson said: “This case is about genuine consent and the victim not being informed of exactly what she was consenting to.
“Ciara Watkin deceived the victim in this case and made her believe that she was a woman throughout their sexual relationship, when in fact she was biologically a man.
“Ciara deliberately concealed her gender in order for the sexual activity to occur, and if the victim had been aware that Ciara was biologically male, she would not have consented.”
In his victim impact statement, the complainant said what happened to him had robbed him of some of his manhood.
He said: “I’m a straight man and I wouldn’t even consider doing anything with a man. This situation left me embarrassed and ashamed. I was ridiculed online for Watkin’s deception.
“I’m so sorry about this whole thing.”
Referring to the defendant’s use of male pronouns, the victim added: “I don’t want Watkin to get away with what he did to me.”
Victoria Lamballe, defending, said Watkin had a “rude and flirtatious” side but a psychiatric report revealed his vulnerability.
Watkin had identified as female since grade school, and it was “not a matter of preference or choice, but a deeply ingrained aspect of her identity.”
Ms Lamballe said Watkin grew up in a poor area and was bullied, so it was not surprising that he developed his appearance.
The defendant cried as Ms Lamballe said Watkin “wanted to be seen by others the way he saw himself”.
Sentencing, Recorder Makepeace said: “I don’t know how you can be so unaffected by your actions, as you have always admitted that you deliberately deceived an 18-year-old lad who had done nothing but show you kindness, courtesy and hospitality, into participating in sexual acts that you knew he would never have considered if he had known the truth.”
The judge added of the victim: “In my judgment he appeared to be completely, innocently honest.
“He left the witness box a very well-mannered, intelligent, sensitive and compassionate person.
“If there is a degree of naivety in what an 18-year-old boy does not have and in fact should have; if there is a wrong decision, it was based on a genuine trusting nature which is not a failing but a quality – I’m just sorry your offense towards him will have probably shattered that trust.”
Regarding Watkin, he said: “Let me say this right away, being a trans woman as you define it is not a mental disorder, disease or neurological disorder.
“But in your case there is a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which is a psychiatric diagnosis that refers to psychological distress resulting from the discrepancy between a person’s sex assigned at birth and their gender identity.”
He also said: “Having seen you present the evidence and seen your behavior throughout the process, I am satisfied that the basis of your offending was your frustration with wanting sexual experiences with heterosexual men and your need to deceive by definition to achieve this; frustration at not having a healthy outlet for sexual impulses is not an uncommon feature in sexual assault cases.”
The judge acknowledged that prison would be “much more difficult” for the defendant.
