![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31720981.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_A-woman-who-pretended-to-be-a-man-so-she-could-have-sex-with-another-woman-has-been-sentenced.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA woman who pretended to be a man and tricked her partner into penetrative sex has been sentenced to time in the cage.<\/p>\n
Blade Silvano, 40, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault by penetration at Cambridge Crown Court on May 23 and has now been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison today (December 20) .<\/p>\n
Silvano defines herself as pansexual but twice fooled her victim into sex with an \u201cunknown object\u201d under the pretence she was a male, Cambridge Crown Court previously heard. From Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, Silvano is understood to have never allowed the partner to touch her genitalia.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: James Bulger's evil killer Jon Venables sees parole bid for freedom rejected<\/b><\/p>\n
Click here for more court news from the Daily Star.<\/b><\/p>\n
She also lied about being a member of the British Army and having cancer. Following her sentencing, Judge Philip Grey said he had heard "some of the most dishonest evidence I've heard in my time on the bench".<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The judge added that she had been convicted over "utterly, utterly overwhelming" evidence. The couple are understood to have lived separately but communicated often and reports claim they had been in the early stages of planning a wedding \u2013 although Silvano claimed to have never met the victim.<\/p>\n
The pair are understood to have met in 2016 on Plenty of Fish and had been seeing one another for around two years. Reports claim that the pair had met up in December of that year, where they \u201ckissed\u201d and went on to have \u201cintercourse\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the trial, the victim, who referred to Silvano as he, said: "When we had sex, Blade would usually blindfold me and I was never allowed to look at the penetration occurring.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31679831.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_SWNS_CAMBRIDGE_CROWN_004.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
For the latest breaking news and stories from around the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
"He would never allow me to go near his genital region and I never saw his penis."<\/p>\n
She said she was "able to move my hands freely down the side and his back," but added: "I was never able to put my hands underneath his clothes or down his boxers."<\/p>\n
The victim added: "He would rebuff me every time I tried to make an advance; he would nudge me away.<\/p>\n
"He was using sex toys on me; it was not allowed the other way round. He told me he was a man and it was on that basis I agreed to have sex with him. He didn't tell me he was female but he penetrated me with something – and I haven't consented to it."<\/p>\n
Detective Constable Leeza Phillips, who investigated the case, said: \u201cThis was an extraordinary investigation and unlike any case I\u2019ve seen before in Cambridgeshire. Silvano carried out the ultimate deception and has caused extreme distress to her victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout the full facts, the victim was not able to give her consent to a sexual relationship and this whole situation has left her feeling violated and traumatised. As this case highlights, we have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice. I hope the victim and her family can now find some closure from this traumatic period.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silvano has also been put on the sex offenders register indefinitely. <\/p>\n
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, Home – Victim Support<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n