A businessman jailed for three years for sexually abusing a child was granted permission to appeal against his conviction.

Howard Kruger, jailed for three years for sexually abusing a child, had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in London yesterday.

But he may face a retrial.

The appeal judges - Lord Justice Hooper, Mr Justice Langstaff and Sir John Blofeld - will decide on Friday whether the case should go before a fresh judge and jury.

Kruger, 45, was released on bail in the meantime. The divorced father of three, of Hill Top, Brighton, was convicted by a 10-2 majority verdict at Lewes Crown Court last July on charges of indecently assaulting a young girl.

Kruger, the former boyfriend of model Alex Best, ex-wife of late footballer George Best, was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register on his release and banned for life from working with children.

He told the jury he had been a successful businessman, earning up to £100,000 a year.

His business collapsed when the court case became public, and he was forced into bankruptcy. He had no previous convictions.

Editor’s note: Subsequently, the Court of Appeal rejected the application for a retrial, saying it was not in the interests of justice.