Transgender Woman Jailed for 21 Months for Sexual Assault After Hiding Penis from Man During Intimate Encounter

A 21-year-old transgender woman, Ciara Watkin, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a man by concealing that she was biologically male during intimate encounters.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Watkin met her 18-year-old victim on Snapchat, where they exchanged messages before meeting in person and spending the night together. During their encounter, Watkin performed sexual acts on the man but refused to let him touch her, claiming she was on her period.

The deception came to light later when Watkin told the man she had a “massive secret” and revealed she was transgender. Shocked and distressed, the victim told police he felt “ill” upon learning the truth, adding that he believed Watkin was “fully a girl” throughout their time together.

The court was told that Watkin had not undergone gender reassignment surgery and had used clothing to pad her bra. Her Snapchat profile displayed a female cartoon avatar, and there had been no mention of gender or sexuality in their conversations prior to meeting.

In his statement, the victim described feeling humiliated and violated, saying the incident had left him “ashamed and embarrassed” and subjected to ridicule online. He said discovering that Watkin had male genitalia made him feel as though “it’s taken away my manhood,” adding that he suffered an emotional breakdown following the revelation.

Watkin, who has identified as female since primary school, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. She was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a lifelong restraining order preventing contact with the victim.

Her defence lawyer, Victoria Lamballe, described Watkin as having a “crass and licentious” side but also as someone with significant vulnerability, citing a psychiatric report. She argued that Watkin’s gender identity was “not a matter of preference or choice but a deeply ingrained aspect of her identity.”

Before sentencing, Watkin told *The Sun* she believed she had been unfairly prosecuted, claiming the victim and his friends were aware she was transgender. “He must have known I’m not female,” she said. “I have a strong case that I have been unfairly prosecuted and I’m prepared to make a legal case for that.”

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Martin Scotson, who led the investigation, said the case centred on the issue of consent. “This case is about true consent and the victim not being informed of exactly what he was consenting to,” he said. “Ciara Watkin purposely concealed her sex in order for the sexual activity to take place, and had the victim been aware that she was biologically male, he would not have consented.”