Transgender man faked sexual relationships

A transgender male who had sexual relationships with three woman by using an Ann Summers strap-on dildo in the dark was jailed for 13 years.

Tarjit Singh, 32, who was born as a female named Hannah Walters, assaulted the victims between June 2010 and March 2016.

Singh would keep clothing on and have sex with the women with the strap-on phallus while the lights were turned off.

When the victims began to ask questions, Singh became abusive and manipulative.

One woman was told there was ‘more to a relationship than sex’ and that she should learn to talk about her feelings more.

Max Hardy, prosecuting, told the court how Singh had met two of his victims online, one through Facebook and another through the dating app ‘Plenty of Fish’.

Singh had used the dating app ‘as a means of meeting young females … for the purpose of sexual intimacy.’

‘He was holding himself up as a male,’ the prosecutor said.

One victim was ‘very quickly removed from her family circumstances and into the defendant’s accommodation without any length of courtship.’

Another victim was doused in lighter fluid as Singh threatened to end her life by setting her alight.

The abusive relationship also involved punching, biting, strangling and slapping.

Singh was convicted of three counts of assault by penetration, six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of making a threat to kill.

One victim said: ‘He looked like a guy, he acted like a guy.’

The victim only found out that the defendant was not a man after finding his strap-on dildo penis some months into their relationship.

She told police officers that she felt ‘so stupid’ that she had fallen for such lies.

Singh told another victim that he had been born a boy, had a sex change to become a woman, and now wanted to be a man again.

The third victim met Singh after receiving a message from the dating website Plenty of Fish in 2014.

Singh told her that he would be having a sex change to become a woman.

He was caught out after this relationship became abusive and the victim made a complaint to police.

During the trial the prosecution was able to present mobile phone evidence that showed a history of websites visited by Singh, which included FreeToMProsthetics.com – a company making ultra-realistic prosthetic penises.

Reading two victim impact statements in court, prosecutor Ms Corinne Bramwell told the court how victims were robbed of their most important moments in life.

One said: ‘My mental health has been affected and I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression.

‘I owe it to myself and other women trying to seek justice. I was not the first girl this has happened to and I was not the last. I was made to feel this was normal behaviour in relationships.

‘I felt ashamed to face my family when they tried to face me in this situation.

‘I was robbed of my most important moments in my life.’

The victim described how she was unable to complete her studies and for a long time was afraid of moving out or even leaving her home.

‘When I did go out I was looking over my shoulder.

‘It took me a very long time to get over what I have been through.’

Another victim told the court how Singh’s actions had affected her ‘emotionally and physically’.

‘This trial has taken so long to happen and in that time my life has changed so much, but I haven’t been able to rebuild my life.’

Having had a miscarriage just before the trial the victim said: ‘I haven’t had the time or headspace to grieve the loss of my child.’

She also has been suffering from PTSD, anxiety and depression and is currently in therapy after considering suicide.

‘I cannot imagine a time when I will be over what has happened to me,’ she said.

‘I don’t like going to places where there are a lot of people which means I never meet new people.

‘I am really confused as a person. I don’t trust people and I’m scared what will happen to me next.

‘My sex life has been affected. I constantly freak out about what is going to happen next.’

The victim also suffers from a recurring nightmare preventing her from sleeping.

She is having ongoing surgery for her nose after Singh assaulted her with a mobile phone when they were dating.

‘I have had surgery on it, I am in constant pain and I don’t think it will ever be back to how it was.

‘I am trying to get back to the old me and do the things I love. I just want this pain to stop.

‘I hope the sentence she receives reflects the trauma that she has caused.’

Cate Bex defending, said Singh has ‘physical revulsion that he has female anatomy’ and suffers from ‘personality disorder and gender dysphoria’.

‘He has had gender identity issues at childhood. He is vulnerable to ridicule and challenge on a daily basis.’

The barrister said Singh’s relationships lasted between six months to one years and eight months.

‘Their choice to continue in a relationship with him for many months is an illustration of how they felt at the time and the fact that they felt differently in hindsight.’

After one victim was told by Singh that he was using a strap-on she told him: ‘I don’t mind what you’ve got between your legs. I’m bisexual so it doesn’t really make a difference to me anyway.’

Judge Oscar Del Fabbro told the court: ‘We are dealing with an incredibly naïve young woman. She was completely besotted. The manipulation and deceit continued throughout the relationship.’

Addressing Singh in the dock Judge Del Fabbro told him: ‘You deceived them. Instead of opening up a frank and honest discussion about your gender and about who you really want to be, you chose a different path instead.

‘With them you chose a path of deceit. You persuaded them that you were male, whether it was biological or through the transition process.’

Judge Del Fabbro noted that Singh offered charm, companionship and a listening ear to the victims when in fact ‘nothing could be further from the truth.’

He continued: ‘You swiftly became controlling, violent and abusive, that’s the reality of what happened. Your actions have invariably left an indelible mark on each of them.

‘Each of them has suffered physically and mentally because of your cruel and controlling behaviour.

Addressing Singh directly Judge Del Fabbro said: ‘You are an accomplished and manipulative liar. I consider and conclude that it would be appropriate to impose an extended sentence.’

The court also paused for a moment to pay tribute to the victims and their families.

‘They had the courage to report these matters. They endured the burden of reliving these circumstances. It is a gruelling process for any victim of crime,’ the judge said,

Wearing a black face mask and large black coat jacket Singh showed no emotion from the dock and refused to stand as he was given his sentence.

Singh, of Enfield, was sentenced to a total of 13 years.

He is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Melissa Garner, from the CPS, said: ‘These victims have been deceived, betrayed and lied to in the most disturbing and traumatic of ways.

‘One of the victims was just 16 years old when she met the defendant.

‘Tarjit Singh, who was born as Hannah Walters, presented himself as a man, wore men’s clothing and used a man’s name.

‘He tricked three innocent women into believing he was male and when questioned, he violently attacked them and intimidated them into continuing relationships.

‘Singh has never admitted his crimes and has continued to claim that these victims were aware of his gender.

‘The victims in this case have shown immense courage in coming to court and giving evidence.