A transgender woman, Ciara Watkin, 21, has been found guilty of sexual assault after failing to disclose her male genitalia to a man she dated. The incident occurred several years ago at a home in Thornaby, Yorkshire, where Watkin engaged in sexual acts with the victim, whom she met through Snapchat.

During the trial at Teesside Crown Court, it was revealed that Watkin had concealed her transgender status from the man. She performed sexual acts but refused to allow him to touch her. After the encounter, she later messaged him, stating, "I'm trans. I'm sorry I didn't tell you," indicating that she had a "massive secret". The victim subsequently reported the incident to the police.

The court heard the victim's testimony, where he expressed that throughout their time together, Watkin presented herself as fully female. He stated, "All the way throughout she made out she was fully a girl," and described how they had been drinking and decided to go to the bedroom. 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."

Sarah Nelson, Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS North East, highlighted that Watkin had made no attempt to inform the victim of her transgender status before engaging in sexual activity. She stated, "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 expressed that he would not have engaged in sexual activity had he known Watkin was transgender, and the experience has significantly affected his mental wellbeing.

In a police interview, the victim shared his emotional turmoil, saying, "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."

The court also heard that Watkin had asked the victim to come into the bathroom while using the toilet and requested the light be turned off. The jury was informed that Watkin had stuffed clothing inside her bra to conceal her male anatomy.

Watkin's defence attorney, Victoria Lamballe, noted that she had not undergone gender reassignment surgery. The court was told that during a subsequent meeting at the victim's home, his mother suspected Watkin was transgender, but did not inform her son.

The judge remarked on the case, stating, "Ciara Watkin made full admissions in her interviews with police. There is no question she set out to deceive him as to her true gender. That was done to secure sexual relations with him." Watkin was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault and one charge of assault by penetration. She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10.