A woman who was jailed for eight years after being accused of impersonating a man to trick a female friend into sex has won a challenge against her conviction.
Gayle Newland, 26, was released on bail after her conviction for three counts of sexual assault was quashed by the court of appeal in London. Newland will now face a retrial.
The three appeal court judges, Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice King and Mr Justice Dove, found that the original conviction was unsafe. Hallett told the court that the summing up by the trial judge, Roger Dutton, had not been properly fair and balanced.
Newland, who watched proceedings via video link from HMP Styal in Cheshire, wept as the judges announced their decision.
The former marketing manager was said to have disguised herself as a man and persuaded her victim to wear a blindfold at all times when they met.
Appearing at Chester crown court in September last year, Newland denied sexual assault, claiming her accuser always knew she was pretending to be a man as they engaged in roleplay while struggling with their sexuality.
A jury of eight women and four men later found Newland guilty on three counts of sexual assault by penetration.
