Osareen Omoruyi
Osareen Omoruyi, a male who identifies as a transgender woman, was charged on 9 February 2024 with two counts each of sexual assault by penetration and causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. The charges were brought in connection with an incident that occurred on the evening of 7 February in Witney town centre. The child – a teenage boy – was apparently unknown to Omoruyi.
The Thames Valley police press release described Omoruyi, aged 51, of Witney, as a ‘woman’ as did the local newspaper, the Oxford Mail – this caused controversy on social media, with a large number of members of the public insisting that the police and media did not obscure the suspect’s sex in this way, not least because it could deter other potential victims from contacting the police to report other alleged offending by the suspect.
Following an appearance at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 10 February, the Oxford Mail reported that the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Thames Valley stated the description of Omoruyi by police was ‘concerning’ and noted that magistrates had ‘quite rightly’ remanded Omoruyi to a male prison. He said: “In my view it was clearly wrong to describe the suspect as a woman.
“It is important that the public, and possibly other victims have a clear understanding of the facts.
“The police and other criminal justice agencies must deal in facts, as best evidenced to them at the time. Any failure to do so risks damaging public confidence and overshadowing excellent policing in the interests of public safety.
Thames Valley Police told the Banbury Guardian the person arrested identified as a woman and according to their code of practice, should be treated as female – their ‘stated preference’.
The case has now been sent to Oxford Crown Court and will be heard at 10.30am on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Image via feminist news service Reduxx
Media reports
Banbury Guardian https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/crime/crime-boss-criticises-police-for-describing-man-accused-of-serious-child-sex-offences-in-oxfordshire-as-a-woman-4514079 archive
Oxford Mail https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24117651.witney-person-charged-sex-offences-sent-crown-court/ archive
Oxford Mail https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24110781.witney-woman-charged-connection-child-sex-offences/ archive
Reduxx https://reduxx.info/uk-trans-identified-male-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-teen-boy-reported-as-woman/ archive