Blade Silvano

A woman from Shropshire has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison for using elaborate deception to trick another woman into believing she was a man during sexual encounters. Blade Silvano, who created a fake profile on the dating website PlentyOfFish in 2016, posted images of herself altered to appear masculine, leading to a manipulative relationship that spanned 18 months.

Silvano convinced her victim that she was a British military officer, sending photos that reinforced this illusion, including one of her appearing to wet shave. The pair met twice, during which Silvano had sex with the victim using a strap-on sex toy while wearing an oversized T-shirt to conceal her figure. The deception was so convincing that the victim envisioned a future with 'him', even trying on wedding dresses with her sister and discussing marriage.

The victim's world shattered when she discovered Silvano's true identity via Facebook, leaving her horrified and emotionally devastated. At Cambridge Crown Court, Judge Philip Grey described the manipulation as 'unspeakably cruel' and a 'calculated series of deceit and lies' aimed at sexual gratification, emphasising that it was not related to gender dysphoria but a deliberate fantasy for Silvano's selfish enjoyment.

• Silvano was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration following a trial in May 2023.
• The judge noted: 'You deliberately set out to deceive her and did so in the most reprehensible way. She was convinced she was having sex with a man. You achieved this with a series of careful deceptions. Her consent is null and void.'
• Silvano had claimed during the trial that the relationship was mere online roleplay and that they never met, an account dismissed by the judge as 'remarkable and at times laughable'.

Sentencing occurred on 20 December 2023 at Cambridge Crown Court. Silvano, residing in Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, received 10 years and six months imprisonment and was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely. The case was prosecuted by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, highlighting the severe impact of such deceptions on victims' trust and emotional well-being (Source: Metro News, 20 December 2023; Cambridgeshire Police/PA Wire).