A man has said he feels like his ‘manhood was taken away’ after finding out his Snapchat date was transgender, a court has heard.
Ciara Watkin met the man after exchanging messages on the social media app.
Teeside Crown Court heard how the now 21-year-old performed sex acts on the man after they attended a home in Thornaby a number of years ago.
In a police interview played in court, the alleged victim said: ‘All the way throughout she made out she was fully a girl.’
He added: ‘We were drinking. We sat there for a while just chatting. We decided to go into the bedroom which is when everything happened.’
‘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.’
When asked about his feelings regarding the incident, the alleged victim expressed, “It feels like it’s stripped away my manhood. I find it deeply disturbing. I’m just trying to suppress my emotions. Initially, I had an emotional breakdown.”
The man testified in court that Watkin had invited him into the bathroom while he was using the toilet and requested the lights be turned off, leaving the room completely dark. The jury was informed that Watkin moved her hand from the man’s chest and thigh.
Ciara Watkin, 21, Pictured this morning at Teesside Crown Court, denies two counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault by penetration
Ciara Watkin, 21, has been accused of sexual assault after she ‘concealed male genitalia’ during a night with a Snapchat date
Watkin reportedly called him into the bathroom during his use of the toilet and asked to turn off the lights to make it completely dark, as the court was told.
Victoria Lamballe, defending Watkin, said the 21-year-old has had no gender reassignment surgery and had stuffed clothing inside of their bra.
The court heard that it was some time after the pair had met that Watkin told him over the phone about being transgender.
During a police interview, he recounted, “That’s when she informed me she was transgender, but still had a penis. I was taken aback. Had I known she had a penis, I wouldn’t have been involved with her.”
He told officers he ‘didn’t swing that way’.
Ms. Lamballe questioned the man, “Are you seriously claiming that throughout all these hours, it never crossed your mind that she might not be female?”
He replied, “I thought she was female.” Watkin, residing on Queen’s Avenue in Thornaby, faces charges of two counts of sexual assault and one charge of sexual assault by penetration, all of which she denies.
Paul Reid, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday, August 19, that when arrested, Watkin told officers: ‘Me and him had sex without me telling him I was a boy. When I let him know I was a different gender, he didn’t like it.’
‘She agreed that sexual activity had taken place,’ Mr Reid said, outlining the prosecution’s case.
Watkin had not undergone any gender reassignment surgery and had stuffed clothing down her bra
Watkin stands accused of having performed sex acts on the man after he arrived at a house in Thornaby, north Yorkshire, a number of years ago
The prosecution said Watkin had pretended to be on a period so that the man would not touch below the defendant’s waist
At a previous hearing Mr Reid said Watkin pretended to be on a period so that the man would not touch below the defendant’s waist.
The prosecutor then told the jury that Watkin later contacted her date to reveal ‘a massive secret.’ Messages sent between the two were read out to the jury.
When the alleged victim asked if the secret was that she was pregnant, Watkin replied: ‘I’m trans. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.’
The man messaged: ‘WTF. So you have a d***?’ before repeating his question.
Watkin added: ‘That’s why I haven’t s****** you.’
The court heard that Watkin’s Snapchat profile used a female cartoon avatar and that there had been no discussion about sexuality or gender.
The trial continues.
