News

Woman Who Used Fake Penis To Sexually Assault Friend Is Found Guilty

by Gillian Fuller
Universal Pictures

Gayle Newland, the UK woman who took catfishing to the extreme by posing as a male to trick her female friend into sex, was found guilty of sexual assault in court today.

Newland, 25, reportedly initiated contact with her victim in 2011 using a Facebook profile she created under the pseudonym Kye Fortune. After forging a friendship, Newland and her victim met in person in 2013, with the former using a disguise intended to convince the victim she was, in fact, a male.

On the estimated 10 occasions the pair had sex, Newland allegedly told the victim to wear a blindfold, claiming she underwent surgery a few years prior and was self-conscious of her scars. To further convince the victim she was a male, Newland apparently used a prosthetic penis. She also forced the victim to comply with a set of "rules," one of which banned the victim from touching Newland's penis, Daily Mail reports.

The victim says she learned of Newland's tangled web of lies after two years when she spontaneously removed her blindfold during sex and saw Newland. She said she was "sickened" by the discovery and "at no time" consented to having intercourse with a woman, despite the defense's claims to the contrary.

Though the prosecution reportedly admitted the case was "unusual," Newland was ultimately convicted on three counts of sexual assault in court today.

Judge Roger Dutton, who suggested in closing Newland had “serious issues surrounding her personality,” ordered the defendant to undergo a mandatory psychiatric evaluation, and reminded her the consequences of her actions "may be serious."

Newland was bailed out and released on probation until her sentencing hearing, tentatively slated for November.

Citations: Woman, 25, who pretended she was a man to dupe female friend into sex is found GUILTY of three counts of sexual assault (Daily Mail)