January 2019

Worcester transgender woman, previously convicted of rape, breaches order

A transgender woman, previously convicted of raping a girl, has breached a sexual harm prevention order.

Zoe Lynes was sent to a youth detention centre in 2014, after pleading guilty to five counts of rape against a child aged between 13 and 15.

The 22-year-old, whose name was also given in court as Christopher Worton, admitted breaching her sexual harm prevention order.

Lynes, of Barbourne Road, Worcester, violated the order by visiting a home in the city, while a child was there.

Christopher Aggrey, defending, said: “She decided to go to see her friend who she’s known since 2012.

She went there on a snowy day to see if he needed any basic essentials from the shop.

“She said he’s been there for her since 2012, they were in a car crash some time ago. He’s stuck by her through thick and thin. She’s been through quite a tumultuous few years. She felt obliged to check on his welfare. She’s aware he has one child, aged two.”

Lynes had no intention to enter the property and this was the first time she had breached her sexual harm prevention order, the court heard.

Mr Aggrey said the defendant had experienced isolation as a result of her gender transition.

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said Lynes’ friend questioned why she was there, when she arrived at his door on December 10, 2017.

The prosecutor said the defendant’s friend, his son and his sister were in the home at the time.

The two friends spoke in the doorway for a few seconds before Lynes left, the court heard.

However, the defendant waved at two youngsters inside the home as she departed, Ms Ritchie said.

She added that Lynes’ friend previously told her that there were children at the property.

The defendant changed her name in 2017.

At Worcester Magistrates Court, Lynes was told to pay a £93 fine, a £30 victim surcharge and £135 in court costs.