Michael Hillman prosecuted Blade Silvano who stood trial at Cambridge Crown Court between the 15th and 23rd May 2023. Silvano stood trial on two counts of assault by penetration. The case attracted considerable media attention, and was reported in Australia and the USA. Silvano, a woman, deceived the victim for nearly two years by pretending to be male. The relationship primarily existed over WhatsApp but the couple met on a number of occasions during which the offences occurred.
Media reports can be found here:
