A transgender woman who concealed her gender before performing a sex act on a man has been found guilty of sexual assault. 

Ciara Watkin, a 21-year-old from Stockton-on-Tees, was convicted of several offenses involving sexual activities with a 21-year-old man, which took place over several days in June 2022.

These charges of sexual assault were filed at Teesside Crown Court today because Watkin did not reveal her transgender identity to the man, meaning he was unable to provide informed consent.

The pair met over Snapchat, exchanging messages over a few weeks before meeting at a house in Thornaby, the court heard. 

After socializing and consuming alcohol, the two went to a bedroom. Watkin explained to the man that she was menstruating, which prevented him from making any contact below her waist while she engaged in sexual acts with him.

A few days later, Watkin attended the victim’s home where further sexual activity took place. The victim’s mother and friends had met Watkin and suspected she was trans, the court heard.

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 

The victim, who was described as a ‘naive young man’, said the revelation left him feeling sick and told the police that he ‘didn’t swing that way’.

Watkin, who has not had gender realignment surgery, wanted to be female from the age of seven, the court heard.

She told police she realised if the man believed she was trans, the relationship would have ended.

The defence argued that Watkin had fooled herself into thinking she had tricked the victim and made the admission to police because she wanted to be seen as a woman.

They added Watkin is ‘so obviously male’ that the victim had to have known she was trans. 

Judge Peter Makepeace KC said: ‘The defence say this is an accused person who has fooled herself into believing she successfully deceived (him).

‘She so wants to be female, she has actually fooled herself.’

The judge added the defence had argued that the victim realised Watkin was trans ‘from the outset’ and he had lied ‘to avoid the ridicule of his friends’.

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 

The judge further summarised the defences case as: ‘Whatever Ciara might believe about successfully fooling (him), she is so obviously male, he couldn’t have been fooled.’

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.’

Summing up the case before the jury retired, the judge said the Crown’s case ‘could not be more straight forward’.

He said: ‘Ciara Watkin made full admissions in her interviews with police.

‘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).’

A jury at Teesside Crown Court convicted Watkin of two counts of sexual assault and one of assault by penetration. 

Watkin was granted bail but the judge said ‘jail was the overwhelming likelihood’. 

The judge urged the prison authorities to consider the ‘very real management issues’ that jailing the defendant will pose. 

She will be sentenced on October 10 at Teesside Crown Court.