Transgender rapist, 19, is facing jail after she carried out sex attack on woman she invited into her home before she went on to identify as female

A transgender rapist who carried out a sex attack on a woman before going on to identify as a female is facing jail.

Freddie Christian Trenchard – who is now known as Alyssa Christine – carried out the sexual assault in her bedroom after inviting the victim to her home in Guernsey.

She was convicted after a three-day trial in the Channel Islands which women’s rights campaigners have described as ‘bizarre’.

Activists hit out after Trenchard was released on bail following the conviction and over claims Judge Christine Fooks apologised to Trenchard for referring to her as a man during the trial in Guernsey’s Royal Court.

Trenchard, 19, was accused of committing the offence in 2021 before she transitioned to identify as a woman.

Freddie Christian Trenchard – who is now known as Alyssa Christine – carried out the sexual assault in her bedroom after inviting the victim to her home in Guernsey before she began identifying as a woman 

The court heard how Trenchard invited the victim around to her  home during the summer of that year

Prosecuting Advocate Phoebe Cobb told the court the defendant was ‘biologically male’ when the offence was committed.

The court heard how Trenchard invited the victim around to her home during the summer of that year.

The victim said she was crying throughout the rape, and said ‘no’ on more than one occasion. She didn’t report it to the police until February last year.

Advocate Oliver Fattorini argued that no sexual intercourse had taken place and suggested the allegations had been made because the victim was transphobic.

The claim was rigorously denied by the victim.

The court heard Trenchard gave ‘no comment’ responses to questions when interviewed voluntarily under caution in May last year.

Trenchard broke down after the guilty verdict was delivered. She is not expected to be sentenced until later this year.

After the hearing Jane Roper, of Guernsey Women’s Rights Network (WRN), said the presiding judge had initially described Trenchard as a ‘transgender male’, but later apologised to the rapist for doing so.

Guernsey has just one prison, which houses both male and female offenders

Ms Roper, who attended the proceedings, said: ‘The judge was sent a message asking the defendant what he would like to be described as, and then actually apologised to him and told the court that Trenchard would like to be described as “a transgender female”.

‘It was a truly bizarre experience to witness the court jumping through hoops for this man.

‘As a woman, that felt really shocking, especially as we had all sat through the complainant’s harrowing oral evidence detailing the rape.’

She said it was ‘bizarre’ to hear statements such as, ‘Miss Trenchard then penetrated [the complainant] with her penis,’ and, ‘Miss Trenchard then ejaculated on [the complainant’s] back.’

‘Trenchard hasn’t so much as legally changed his name – let alone undergone any surgery.’

On Facebook, Trenchard describes herself as ‘female’ and ‘single’.

In 2018 she wrote how she was ‘in a relationship’ with a woman.

Guernsey has just one prison which houses both male and female offenders.

Earlier this year prison governor John De Carteret confirmed transgender prisoners will serve sentences in line with their sex assigned at birth.

In February the jail had 80 inmates – 75 male and five female.

The prison is mixed during the working day but genders are accommodated separately for living and sleeping.

After the verdict Guernsey Police said: ‘While often difficult crimes to investigate, our officers always take reports of any sexual offences, particularly rape, incredibly seriously, and will ensure a robust and thorough investigation takes place to gather best evidence and support victims of these crimes.’