A transgender woman who concealed her gender before performing a sex act on a man has been found guilty of sexual assault.
Ciara Watkin, 21, of Stockton-on-Tees, was found guilty of multiple charges relating to sex acts she performed on the 21-year old man over a number of days in June 2022.
The sexual assault charges were brought at Teesside Crown Court today after Watkin failed to disclose her transgender status to the man, which meant he could not have given informed consent.
The pair met over Snapchat, exchanging messages over a few weeks before meeting at a house in Thornaby, the court heard.
After drinking and getting to know each other, the pair went to a bedroom, where Watkin told the defendant she was on her period, preventing him from touching her below the waist as she performed sex acts on him.
A few days later, Watkin attended the victim’s home where further sexual activity took place.
Watkin then blocked all contact with the man but eventually got back in touch with him, before telling him via text that she was trans and had male genitalia.
Ciara Watkin, 21, was found guilty of multiple charges relating to sexual acts that she performed on a 21-year old man over a number of days in June 2022
The sexual assault charges were brought at Teesside Crown Court today after Watkin failed to disclose her transgender status to the man, which meant he could not have given informed consent
Watkin pictured outside Teesside Crown Court on Thursday
Watkin had not undergone any gender reassignment surgery and had stuffed clothing down her bra
Watkin will be sentenced on October 10 at Teesside Crown Court
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.’
Watkin will be sentenced on October 10 at Teesside Crown Court.
