Transgender woman, 54, who was convicted of rape in 1998 when she was a man is jailed for nine years for stabbing another trans woman in the home they shared before tying her to a chair with tights and stealing her cash
- Zara Jade slashed her victim in the arm and abdomen while she sat on her knee
A transgender woman who was convicted of rape in 1998 when she as a man was today jailed for nine years for stabbing another trans woman in the home they shared.
Zara Jade, 54, slashed her victim in the arm and abdomen while she sat on her knee. She then used the leggings to strap her ankles, knees, chest and arms to the electrically powered chair before tilting her back and switching off the power.
Bradford Crown Court heard how her victim remained fixed in place for a few hours at their shared flat in Halifax while Jade used her card to withdraw £300 before later untying her.
Jade pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, robbery, fraud and false imprisonment.
Zara Jade, 54, slashed her victim – also believed to be a trans woman – in the arm and abdomen while she sat on her knee in the home they shared
The court heard that the defendant was currently in the process of transitioning and was referred to with ‘she/her’ pronouns.
Prosecutor Lydia Pearce said today that the defendant had been out drinking before she made demands for money in her shared flat.
She then attacked her victim – who was able to stem the bleeding from her ‘superficial’ wounds with a cloth – while demanding to know her PIN number.
The police were contacted after a district nurse saw the complainant’s healing wounds during a visit a few days later and Jade was then arrested.
Deputy circuit judge Timothy Clayson was told that back in 1988, Jade had been locked up for five years for rape and other sexual offences.
He was also informed that in 2013, she had been jailed again for another sexual matter.
Barrister Richard Canning, representing Jade, said her main focus was now to complete her transition while adding she knew what she had done was wrong.
He also said Jade had struggled with alcohol and had made ‘bad decisions’ while in drink.
Judge Clayson said Jade’s victim had serious health issues and that she was particularly vulnerable.
He also said the complainant had been helpless and unable to move or contact anyone after being tied to the chair.
The judge added that the next morning, Jade was apologetic and said she felt mortified by what she had done.
He said the offences showed that the defendant was willing to behave in a ‘callous and cruel’ way towards a vulnerable victim.
He said her previous convictions were for serious offences and he concluded that she was a dangerous offender.
Jade will now have to serve two-thirds of a nine-year jail sentence before being considered for release by the Parole Board.
She will then be subject to an extended licence period of three years.
Judge Clayson also made her subject to a 12-year restraining order, which bans her from contacting the complainant directly or indirectly.
The Ministry of Justice refused to reveal whether Jade would be sent to a men or women’s prison.
