A transgender man repeatedly assaulted a woman with a prosthetic penis during what has been described as a 'violent and controlling relationship', Hove Crown Court has heard this week. Zainab Jamshaid, a 20-year-old student, faces numerous charges including sexual offences, assaults, strangulation, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Details of the Alleged Assaults
The court was told that Jamshaid, who was assigned female at birth but identified as a man at the time of the alleged incidents, wore the prosthetic device at all times during the turbulent relationship. Prosecutors allege he used it to sexually assault the woman on multiple occasions, despite her pleas for him to stop and her use of an agreed safe word.
Escalating Violence and Control
The relationship began to deteriorate rapidly after the alleged victim discovered Jamshaid had been cheating with his former girlfriend. When confronted, Jamshaid became angry and argumentative, frequently saying hurtful things. The violence escalated to include physical assaults beyond the sexual offences.
In one particularly disturbing incident, after an argument while walking home, Jamshaid allegedly took a maths compass from his pocket and scratched a 'Z' into the woman's leg, causing bleeding. Prosecutor Sarah Lindop described this as "marking her as his."
Multiple Assaults with Prosthetic Device
The court heard detailed accounts of three separate assaults with the prosthetic penis:
- At a hotel, after the woman got out of the shower, Jamshaid allegedly became aggressive despite her protests and used the prosthetic device while she cried and begged him to stop.
- Months later, he again undressed her and penetrated her with the prosthetic despite her lack of consent and attempts to stop him.
- On another occasion when she allowed him to stay at her house, he ignored her protests and safe word, assaulting her with the prosthetic while allegedly getting "some sort of thrill" from her distress.
Additional Violent Incidents
The jury was told the relationship was marred by multiple violent episodes:
- Jamshaid allegedly imprisoned the woman in a college bathroom for much of a day, strangling her with his bare hands before throttling her with a metal bar until she lost consciousness.
- He reportedly hit her with the neck of a wine bottle and punched her jaw while wearing a ring, causing a cut that later scarred.
- During one argument, he allegedly punched her in the face seven times.
Discovery and Arrest
The situation came to light when Jamshaid went to his ex-girlfriend's house once again. Initially, he tried to pretend he was the victim, giving police his ex-girlfriend's name before admitting his identity and being arrested. While in custody, he gave a prepared statement denying all 14 offences put to him.
The court heard that Jamshaid, who now identifies as a woman again, maintains his innocence. The trial continues as prosecutors present their case about what they describe as a pattern of controlling behaviour and repeated sexual and physical assaults.
