Ciara Watkin convicted sex offender
Ciara Watkin first came to my attention when I heard her name mentioned on Britain’s favourite News Channel, GBNews. The item got my full attention when I realised the channel had finally got their dearest wish. They had found a convicted sex offender and she was a transgender woman. I was surprised however when the channel didn’t capitalise on the news and didn’t give any more air time than other MSM news outlets. When I found the story on the BBC it was almost a carbon copy of the GBNews item with only minor alterations such as the age of Ciara’s victim and Ciara’s own age. Apparently the victim was 17 and Ciara was 21. In fact they were both the same age at the time of the offence.
When I read through a few accounts of the story in different news outlets I got the feeling they were all from some official source and I suspect the minor factual mistakes such as differing age and addresses mentioned, were deliberate in case anyone thought the News Outlets simply cut and pasted their news items. It’s not important, what was important to me at least, was the lack of substance or context and even an unusual lack of hype surrounding the whole affair.
I was worried that a young Transgender woman, 17 at the time a complaint was made against her, had had this awful accusation hanging over her for the last three years and was now being warned that she almost certainly faced jail because sex crimes are so serious.
Ciara Watkin was sentenced to 20 months in prison, being placed on a sex offender register and having a 10 year restraining order placed on her. Presumably if her victim complains that Ciara bumped into him after her release she could end up in jail again without trial (check)
I have tried to get permission to visit Ciara in prison. I am deeply concerned about her physical and mental wellbeing. As a journalist I try to get to the source and find facts during any investigation. I am already working full time on a very long term investigation but felt I should really get some facts and talk to Ciara, her defence council, police, friends and teachers and try to get some background on her life story. My intuition told me there was something very wrong with this case.
Briefly, Ciara was found guilty of deception as to sex. She had been chatting to a boy of her own age on line for several months before they agreed to meet in person for a ‘date’. During that first date they spent time getting to know each other and had a drink together. Consensual sex took place and both Ciara and the boyfriend obviously enjoyed their first date because they agreed to meet again at the boyfriends house. During the second date they spent the night chatting and drinking then again had consensual sex.
I don’t think it’s clear what happened after the second date, I only have MSM and what the prosecution claimed in court and the comments of the judge after Ciara was found guilty, to go on. I have been blocked by the Prison service from seeing Ciara and the Prison service refuses to let me know where she is being held or even her prison number. Ciara has not replied to my letters or used the self addressed envelope I enclosed with the letters. I have a lot of questions for her defence barrister but she refuses to see me or answer any of my questions. I have been unable to find out which school she and her boyfriend attended. I don’t know anything at all about the boyfriend.
Sarah Vine KC by her own admission was in court during the trial. Sarah Vine is know to be an anti trans advocate and offers expert advice to professionals when any Trans rights are involved in any decision making that has to be made. I did ask Ciara’s defence barrister if she had been given advice about how she should best defend her client but this and all my other questions have gone unanswered so far.
My investigations are however ongoing. I’m worried about Ciara’s well being as I have said so I can’t ignore this. My intuition tells me she is coping and I believe her fellow inmates will be looking after her. Criminals are Human and most men by instinct are more likely to feel the urge to protect vulnerable women within their community environment rather than automatically take advantage of them. I suspect Ciara has never been treated with much respect by anyone so far in her young life. I hope she finds real friends.
The only facts I have found so far are the following
Ciara Watkin
Born 24th February 2004
Address now Unknown prison
Address at time of crime unknown
Date of complaint against her June 2022
The initial complaint may have been made by a teacher at the victims school. According to Sarah Vine in her post to Feminist Lawyers they were both 17 at the time and the offence took place 4 years ago. Needs checking.
Date of being charged 18/04/24
FOI to Cleveland police
Please let me know the date of information being sent to the CPS and the date of formal charging of Ciara Watkin upon receiving advice from CPS
a) Information was sent to CPS on 11/01/24 the charge date was 18/04/2024.
From this it looks like the police waited for the appropriate change to law before they charged Ciara. Looks like a possible criminal conspiracy.
Charged with what exactly Sexual Assault/Assault by penetration
Date of CPS revised advice being published 26th September 2022
Date of CPS Public Enquiry ended 8th December 2022
Date of publication of updated CPS guidance as to deception by sex
Was published on 13th December 2024
Date of sex and gender ruling by the Supreme Court (UK) was on April 16, 2025
The Court case was heard in Durham Crown Court
Country England and Wales
Date 10-10-2025
Court Durham Crown Court
Case Number u20252557 / 17ns1067122
Name Ciara Watkin
Gender Transgender
Age 21
Offence Sexual assault 2 counts
Sentence Custodial immediate
Order Details
Sex Offender notification requirements restraining
order : indefinite / life
Sentence note: Sex offenders register 10 years
Offence: Assault by penetration
Sentence: Custodial immediate
Total sentence: 1 year 9 months
Likely release / eligibility date: 12/7/2026
Distinguishing features / details
Name of Judge Mr.Recorder PA Makepeace KC
Defence Team
Barrister Victoria Jane Lamballe
Probably advised by Transphobe Sarah Vine KC
Prosecution Team Paul William Reid
Prosecuting authority: CPS Cleveland
Police area: Cleveland police
Prosecutors publish updated
‘deception as to sex’ guidance
13 December 2024 | News, Sexual offences
UPDATED prosecution guidance, which clarifies the law on when deceiving someone or failing to disclose birth sex could affect consent in rape cases, has been published today by the Crown Prosecution Service.
The new deception as to sex guidance has been updated to assist prosecutors in their decision making in this complex area of law. The law, which our guidance reflects, states there is no difference between a deliberate deception about birth sex and a failure to disclose birth sex.
Central to the update, the guidance makes clear:
In line with the law on consent – charges will depend on whether a victim was aware of the person’s birth sex and therefore consented to sexual activity by choice. The suspect must also have reasonably believed consent had been given. It also clarifies that a suspect may deceive a complainant as to their birth sex if they choose not to disclose their sex or trans identity. It also clarifies there is no expectation for a complainant to confirm the sex of the defendant prior to sexual activity. Not every situation where a trans or non-binary person fails to disclose their sex will involve a criminal offence – each will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.