Woman Convicted of Impersonating Man to Have Sex with Friend
25 year old Gayle Newland has been found guilty of sexual assault after impersonating a male in order to have sex with her female friend.
Male ‘alter ego’
Newland admitted to impersonating a man, male alter ego ‘Kye Fortune’ whom she fabricated at the age of 13, as a way to speak to girls online.
However, she denied that she had sexually assaulted her friend, who claimed to have been convinced that Newland was in fact a male named ‘Kye’.
Newland claims that the complainant knew from the start of their relationship that she was only pretending to be ‘Kye’, a 25 year old man who studies at the same university as the two women. Newland claims that the other woman was aware that this was part of a role play carried out due to the pair struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.
Blindfolded
Chester Crown Court heard how the two women had sex approximately ten times until their final encounter. During which the complainant removed her blindfold and saw Newland wearing a prosthetic penis.
The jury heard from the prosecution that the complainant was ‘very gullible and naive’. She described to the court how a man named ‘Kye Fortune’ had approached her via Facebook and claimed that the pair had a serious relationship. This relationship consisted of hundreds of telephone and online exchanges over a two year period.
According to the complainant, it was around this two year mark that ‘Kye’ agreed to meet her, by this point the woman thought of ‘Kye ‘as not only her boyfriend, but her fiancé – he had apparently sent her an engagement in the post. However, the jury heard that ‘Kye’ would only meet her only if she adhered to a strict set of rules, such as not looking directly at him and that she should wear a blindfold when they meet.
Disguise
The complainant said that ‘Kye’ claimed to be self-conscious of his body after losing muscle tone following treatment for a brain tumour that was discovered after a car accident, and that this was the reason behind his requests regarding the blindfold. Newland also disguised her appearance when with the woman by bounding her chest and wearing a woolly hat and swimming costume.
Whilst giving evidence last week, the complainant stated:
“Every time I met up with ‘Kye Fortune’, I either had the mask on already or he would wait outside the door and I would put it on. I was so desperate to be loved. It’s pathetic, so desperate for love, so desperate.
“We were just lying there, just cuddling, sometimes we would watch films, sometimes we would just talk. It sounds stupid to say but it was a proper relationship, just normal.”
She went on:
“Since the first time I wrote to this person on Facebook, I thought it was a male.
“The first time I agreed to meet this person and agreed to have sex with them, I thought it was a male I told my friends I was engaged to a guy. I told my work colleagues.”
Gayle Newland was convicted by a jury on Tuesday 15th August of three counts of sexual assault, whilst she was cleared of a further two counts of sexual assault.
Sexual Abuse – Expert Advice
Hampson Hughes Solicitors specialises in directing sexual abuse claims in a considerate and compassionate manner. Our Abuse & Criminal Injuries Department is headed by Greg Neill – Greg is a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL).
For an open and friendly conversation about your situation, and to find out how we can assist you relevant to your individual experience, call 0800 888 6 888 or email
You will be given the direct-dial of your case handler, meaning that you will always be able to reach the person you need.
Source: Guardian; Mail Online
