The woman, named only as 'A' for legal reasons, was convicted in 2005 of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and sent to prison, where she had a string of lesbian relationships with fellow inmates.

However, immigration officials say that, though the woman from the Clapton area of east London had previous homosexual affairs, her current claim that she is in love with another woman is no more than a ruse to remain in the United Kingdom (UK).

No surprise

Carine Patry Hoskins, representing the Home Office at London's Court of Appeal, said it was little surprise that A had been a lesbian when in prison.

"If she wanted to be sexually active, there was no other option," Patry Hoskins said. "There was no other choice but celibacy."

However, she pointed out that A had previously had heterosexual relationships and that it was a former boyfriend who introduced her to drugs.

Patry Hoskins alleged A's new relationship was in fact "part and parcel of a campaign to be allowed to stay in the UK".