‘Danger and naivety of self-ID’: A man who sexually assaulted a woman in the toilets of Birmingham New Street station claimed he was in there because he identified as female

• Ian Bullock, 39, sexually assaulted a woman at Birmingham New Street station
• He was convicted at Birmingham and Solihull Magistrates’ Court in December

A dangerous pervert who sexually assaulted a woman in a ladies’ toilet claimed he was in there because he identified as female.

Ian Bullock, 39, subjected his victim to a ‘vile’ attack after loitering in the toilets at busy Birmingham New Street station.

The woman, who was on her way to work last March, said she thought it was odd when she spotted Bullock in the loo – but assumed he worked at the station because of a high-visibility jacket he was wearing.

As she washed her hands, Bullock made a ‘beeline for her’, British Transport Police said. He bent down next to her as if he was going to pick something up before launching the ‘pre-meditated’ attack.

The woman challenged Bullock who afterwards ‘casually’ walked out of the toilets before sitting down and removing the high-vis jacket he had been wearing. She carried on watching him as he put on a beanie hat in an attempt to disguise himself – before reporting what had happened to station staff.

Ian Bullock, 39, claimed the reason he was in the toilets was he now identified as female, police said

He subjected his victim to an attack after loitering in the toilets at busy Birmingham New Street station (pictured)

BTP officers were called and officers arrested Bullock. When interviewed, Bullock tried to claim the reason he was in the toilets was he now identified as female, police said. Sources last night suggested it was an ‘off the cuff remark’ and stressed Bullock was treated as a man throughout proceedings.

He was convicted of sexual assault at Birmingham and Solihull Magistrates’ Court in December. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years. He also was handed a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which bars him from entering or loitering outside women’s toilets, and wearing any type of high-vis jacket other than for a lawful employment purpose.

Detective Inspector Ian Wright said: ‘Bullock is a dangerous individual who deliberately changed his clothing in order to loiter in the female toilets undetected and launch this vile, pre-meditated assault on the victim in a space she had every right to feel safe in.

‘I would like to commend the bravery of the victim, who faced with an unimaginably awful situation and reported what had happened – meaning officers were able to arrive quickly and arrest him at the scene.

‘Bullock deserves every day of the prison sentence he’s been handed.’

Controversy over sex offenders identifying as female has grown following the conviction of transgender rapist Isla Bryson, who was initially placed in a women’s prison after being convicted of two attacks.

Bryson was taken to Cornton Vale prison – Scotland’s only all-women jail – before being moved to a men’s prison following public outcry.

The issue was raised in the Commons yesterday by Alba Party MP Neale Hanvey. Mr Hanvey said the case and others have ‘illustrated the danger and naivety of self-ID’. He added that latest figures for England and Wales show that 97 of the 230 transgender prisoners in England and Wales are being held for sexual offences.

Ian Bullock was convicted of sexual assault at Birmingham and Solihull Magistrates’ Court

The Government said transgender women held in women’s prisons in England and Wales have committed no assaults or sexual assaults since reforms were introduced in 2019. In October 2022, further reforms required that transgender prisoners with male genitalia should no longer be held in women’s jails.

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