DURHAM: A British court has sentenced a 21-year-old transgender woman, Ciara Watkin, to 21 months in prison for deceiving a man into sexual activity by falsely claiming to be a biological female.
According to a report on Friday, the case was heard at Durham Crown Court, where the victim testified that he would not have consented to the encounter had he known Watkin was biologically male.
Recorder Peter Makepeace KC, in his ruling, said he was “certain” the victim “fully believed from start to finish” that Watkin was a woman, adding that the deception was deliberate and sustained.
Watkin, who was born male but had identified as female since childhood, had not undergone any medical or surgical transition. The court heard that both parties were 18 when they met on Snapchat, where Watkin used a female cartoon avatar as her profile picture. Their online interaction led to a physical meeting and eventual sexual contact.
Prosecutors told the court that Watkin went as far as claiming to be menstruating to prevent the victim from discovering the truth. When she later confessed to being biologically male, the man said he was “physically sick” and immediately reported the incident to police.
“He said he was shocked and upset about being deceived and felt ashamed, embarrassed, and ridiculed online because of Watkin’s actions,” the BBC reported.
The victim, who identified as heterosexual, told the court that part of his masculinity had been “taken away.
Defence counsel Victoria Lamballe argued that Watkin’s actions were not predatory but rooted in “shame and deep discomfort with her own body, explaining that Watkin had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and endured years of bullying.
“It is hardly surprising that Watkin built up a façade to mask the inner turmoil of being born into the wrong body, Lamballe said, adding that her client “simply wanted to be loved.
However, Recorder Makepeace rejected the defence’s argument, noting that the deception was intentional and sustained. He also criticised Watkin’s lack of remorse, describing her courtroom demeanour as flippant, disinterested, and bored.”
“At the heart of this case was your frustration at wanting sexual experiences with heterosexual males, which, by definition, you needed to deceive to achieve, the judge said.
Watkin will serve her sentence in a male prison, with authorities assuring that protective measures will be implemented for her safety.
She was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and issued a lifetime restraining order barring contact with the victim.
Detective Constable Martin Scotson of Cleveland Police said the case underscored the importance of truth and consent, noting that Watkin purposely concealed her sex to enable sexual activity.
He expressed hope that the conviction would allow the victim to heal and “move forward with his life.
