**Shock Verdict: Transgender Woman Found Guilty of Sexual Assault**
Ciara Watkin has been convicted of sexual assault after failing to disclose her biological gender to a man she dated. Meeting through Snapchat, Ciara and the young man, both 21, connected over a couple of weeks before meeting in person. But what happened next took a serious turn.
During their first date, they drank and chatted before moving to the bedroom, where Ciara claimed to be on her period, asking the man not to touch her below the waist. When he reached for her chest, she moved his hands away, hiding the fact she was wearing a bra padded with handkerchiefs. Despite this, she performed sex acts on him five times.
On a second date, Ciara claimed to have been “pregab’d out of her head” and couldn’t recall the evening’s events. Using a female cartoon avatar as her online profile picture, Ciara had never disclosed her transgender status to him.
It was only after the second date, when she blocked and later reconnected with him, that she revealed she was transgender. The man was reportedly shocked, stating in a police interview he wouldn’t have consented to any sexual activity had he known. The ordeal has significantly impacted his mental wellbeing.
Sarah Nelson from CPS North East emphasised that because Ciara did not disclose this crucial information, informed consent was not possible. The case highlights the importance of transparency and informed consent in relationships.
Ciara, who shared she’s wanted to transition since age seven but couldn’t due to drug use, is set for sentencing on 10th October at Teesside Crown Court.
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