Year on the Web

23rd March 1997

Bride to be finds the groom a woman

Left: Leonie Dade Right: Tina called herself Dean
Leonie Dade slept with her intended for seven months before discovering his name wasn’t Dean. It was Tina.

And a vital part of Tina’s disguise had been a pair of boxer shorts with a stuffed sock inside.

Shattered 22-year-old Leonie confessed: "I’ve been so stupid. My life is in tatters. I didn’t know which is worse, people thinking I’m a lesbian or people knowing I was incredibly stupid."

Reliving every moment that she was duped, Leonie shuddered: "We slept in the same bed and I wanted to know why he wasn’t making any moves on me. Dean told me he wasn’t interested in sex before marriage and I believed him.

"I thought it was a bit strange but I did love him and wanted to be with him.

"He always kept himself covered up and he’d wear baggy T-shirts and track suit bottoms in bed."

Leonie first met the person she knew as Dean when she was married to hubby William.

Flattery

"I was living in Portsmouth with our young son and things weren’t going well between us," she explained.

"I was introduced to Dean through my sister in 1994. I was 19 at the time and he was 18. Straight away I was attracted to him. He was short, about 5ft 3ins., but I’m only 5ft.

"I was feeling neglected by my husband and I fell for Dean’s flattery.

"It never even entered my mind that he might be a girl ... well, it’s not really the sort of thing you think about when you first meet someone.

‘He told me his name was Dean Saunders and I believed him. He looked like a boy, acted like a boy and walked like a boy."

When Leonie eventually left her husband, she said, ‘Dean’ asked if she would be his girlfriend.

"Our relationship wasn’t very physical and we only ever kissed. Two weeks after he asked me out, Dean moved in with me and my baby son."

It was then, she said, that ‘Dean’ told her about his no-sex-before-marriage rule. ‘I fell for it completely and so did my family," she said ruefully.

"Dean never introduced me to family and friends .. now I know why.

"And when I got curious about why he didn’t shave he shrugged and said he was only 18 and must be a late developer.

"Once when I looked in his bag I found a pair of boxer shorts with a stuffed sock attached with a pin. Dean just laughed and said it was a joke.

"He moved and acted like a man, he even adjusted his trousers as he walked down the street."

After a few months, said Leonie, ‘Dean’ proposed to her.

She was still married to William but felt so happy that she hoped in her heart of hearts one day she would be Mrs Saunders.

Then came the bomb shell. "Dean sat me down and said there had been rumours that he was a girl," she said.

"He asked me if I’d mind if they were true. I was stunned.

"And then Dean just came out with it, he was female and his real name was Tina McAdam.

‘I think I went into deep shock that lasted for several months. I went back to my mum’s but couldn’t face the shame.

Hate

"Since then I’ve been for counselling. I’ve lost all my friends."

"All I know is that she’s the best actress I’ve ever seen and that I’ll hate her until I die."

Tina McAdam - who now prefers to be known as Dean - had a different version of events.

She told the News of the World: "Leonie knew from the start of our relationship that I was a girl. I’m undergoing sexual re-alignment at the moment and she knew full well of my plans to do this.

"Leonie wanted to marry me. I think she’s making these allegations out of spite because we split up."

But bitterest of all is Leonie’s former husband William. He reckons his marriage was destroyed by a "deceitful, sexually-de-prived monster" who duped Leonie.

He cannot bring himself to refer to Tina by name Instead he calls her ‘It’.

William, 22 seethed: "Our marriage only lasted for nine months and It was to blame. I was working a lot of night shifts and It took advantage and moved in on my wife.

"To think my wife left me because It duped her left one feeling empty and cold."

William has now started a fresh life in Crewe Cheshire, with a new girlfriend. "I’ve burned any photograph that reminded me of Leonie," he said.

"I can’t bear to look at them. I hate them both for what they’ve done to me."

- News of the World

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