Guilty verdict in rape case

Freddie Christian Trenchard, 19, known as Alyssa Christine Trenchard, had denied the offence.

Prosecuting Advocate Phoebe Cobb had told the court how the defendant was biologically male when the offence was committed in 2021.

After about an hour of deliberation, jurats found the defendant guilty with a unanimous verdict.

Judge Catherine Fooks had told them beforehand that the defendant’s transgender status was not material to their deliberation as the defendant had been biologically male at the time. Its only relevance was the fact that the defendant had accused the victim – a young woman – of falsifying a complaint because she was transphobic.

The trial began on Wednesday.

The court heard how the offence was committed between 1 May and 31 July 2021 as the complainant could not be sure of the exact date.

It happened in the defendant’s bedroom after she had invited the complainant to her home.

The defendant was 17 at the time but 18 by the time of her first court appearance.

It was not reported to police until 7 February 2022 and the reasons for that were also given to the court.

Trenchard gave no comment responses to questions when interviewed voluntarily under caution in May last year.

It was the defence case that no sex had taken place on that day.

The defendant claimed the victim had made up the complaint because she was transphobic. The victim denied this and told the court that she was angry at the allegation.

Advocate Cobb said this was a classic case of one person’s word against another – it just happened that those words were worlds apart.

Defending, Advocate Oliver Fattorini told the court that there were inconsistencies between what the complainant had told police and what she had told the court.

Judge Fooks told jurats that a good character direction could be given before they retired to deliberate.

She said it would be wrong to believe that any victim of a sexual offence would report the matter straight away, and it could take time for them to gain sufficient confidence to do so.

Sentencing was adjourned so a probation report could be prepared. A date for sentencing will be set next week.

Trenchard's unconditional bail was extended until then.

She was made subject to notification requirements with immediate effect upon conviction.