A woman allegedly duped into a sexual relationship with a person she believed to be a male Army surgeon has denied engaging in 'role play,' stating she was unaware her partner was in fact female. Blade Silvano, 44, is accused of falsely presenting herself as a man named 'Hunter' on the dating website Plenty of Fish to initiate a relationship with the woman.
During their encounters, 'Hunter' reportedly insisted on low lighting or keeping the lights off and prevented the alleged victim from touching her groin, citing sensitivity. The deception was revealed when the woman was contacted by Silvano's 'wife,' Caernarfon Crown Court has heard.
The alleged victim testified that the possibility of 'Hunter' being female had never occurred to her. She stated that she would not have pursued a connection had she suspected 'his' gender. When questioned by defense counsel, she denied that 'Hunter' had obvious female characteristics despite the alleged efforts to conceal her body.
"There's no role play going on," the woman told the court. "I believed I was in a relationship with a straight, heterosexual man. I would never go out with a woman."
Silvano, who has no fixed address, faces six counts of sexual assault by penetration, alleged to have occurred between November 2022 and June 2023. The prosecution claims Silvano deliberately misled the victim for months, asserting she falsely presented herself as a biological male with a penis.
The alleged victim reportedly told police she felt 'sick' and thought it was a 'joke' upon learning Silvano was a woman. Silvano, however, maintained to investigators that the accuser was aware of her true gender. The trial is ongoing.