Trans woman Ciara Watkin jailed after hiding male genitalia during sex with man

A transgender woman who hid her male genitalia from a man she spent the night with has been sentenced to 21 months in jail.

Ciara Watkin, 21, performed sex acts on the man at a home in Thornaby, Yorkshire, a number of years ago but refused to let him touch her. She later admitted to the man over text that she had a “massive secret” to tell him before revealing: “I’m trans. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

The man reported Watkin to police, and in August, she was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration.

The man said he felt robbed of his “manhood” after finding out that Watkin, who he connected with on Snapchat, was transgender with male genitalia. In a police interview played in court, the victim said: “All the way throughout she made out she was fully a girl.” He said the pair had been drinking and chatting, before deciding to go into the bedroom “which is when everything happened”.

He added: “Throughout the full time, she was telling me she was on her period. It was like as far as I was concerned she was a female.” Asked how he felt about what happened, the victim replied: “It makes me feel like it’s taken away my manhood. I see it as something that upsets me. I’m just trying to hide my emotions. At first I did just have an emotional breakdown.”

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.”

Victoria Lamballe, defending Watkin, said the 21-year-old has had no gender reassignment surgery and had stuffed clothing inside of her bra. Watkin told the man over the phone about being transgender some time after the pair had met, the court heard. They met again for a second time at his home and the victim’s mother suspected Watkin was trans, but did not say anything to her son, the court heard. His friends came to his house and also suspected Watkin trans, jurors were told.

Watkin told the man over the phone about being transgender some time after the pair had met and she told police she realised if the man believed she was trans, the relationship would have ended.

“Ciara Watkin made full admissions in her interviews with police,” the judge said in August. “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).”

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Martin Scotson, said: “This case is about true consent and the victim not being informed of exactly what he was consenting to. Ciara Watkin deceived the victim in this case, leading him to believe that throughout their sexual relationship she was a woman when in fact she was biologically male. Ciara purposely concealed her sex in order for the sexual activity to take place, and had the victim been aware that Ciara was biologically male, he would not have consented.

“A number of enquiries were carried out as part of this investigation, including examining social media messages and speaking with witnesses. I hope that now this case has been brought to a conclusion, the victim can now move forward with his life. Cleveland Police would urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to seek support, come forward and report it.”

Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual abuse can contact Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for help and support, regardless of whether or not the offence has been reported to police. SARC crisis workers are available on 03333448283 at any time of day or night.