Clive Watson

Clive Watson, a violent male who identifies as a trans woman, was convicted at Northampton Crown Court of six burglaries, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified in 2005. Watson, 37, also admitted another 71 hotel burglaries across the Midlands to fund cross-sex hormones. Watson was jailed for 4 years 4 months.

Watson was caught after he was spotted on CCTV kicking in the doors to five hotel rooms and stealing guests’ belongings. While trying to escape with the stolen goods from a Daventry hotel, Watson dragged Pc Pat Murray more than 75ft along the ground as the officer’s arm was trapped in Watson’s car. Pc Murray suffered extensive cuts and bruises.

The judge rejected the defence’s request for leniency with the claim that Watson had been driven to “desperate measures” saying, “It is no excuse to commit offences of dishonesty because you needed the money to change your sex.”

In 2007, Watson was given permission to seek a judicial review by the Ministry of Justice after the High Court refused the prisoner’s release for sex-change treatment.  The court had heard Watson “has been confused about his gender for years and told the court he would often wear his mother’s clothes as a child.”

Watson had a lengthy prison record for theft, dishonesty and a catalogue of driving offences including persistent driving while disqualified and consequently spent most of the late 1990s and early 2000s in and out of prison.

CCTV image of Clive Watson: PA via Daily Telegraph

Media reports

Birmingham Post http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/jail-thief-who-stole-fund-3992351  archive

Daily Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1495614/Four-years-for-burglar-in-search-of-a-sex-change.html  archive

Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-467108/Prisoner-sues-human-right-sex-change.html  archive