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

The Court of Appeal in London yesterday ordered an urgent hearing of the case of Howard Kruger, of Hill Top, Brighton, which was set for November 18.

Kruger, 45, the former boyfriend of model Alex Best, ex-wife of footballer George Best, was convicted by a jury at Lewes Crown Court in July on specimen charges of indecent assault on a young girl.

His lawyers told Mr Justice Mackay yesterday they wanted to call fresh evidence that the internal injuries suffered by the girl could have been self-inflicted or caused by another child.

Kruger's counsel, Mr Henry Pownall QC, said defence lawyers now had video evidence from another girl, indicating that experimental horseplay may have been the true cause of the injuries later spotted by a paediatrician.

It was also argued the child's mother intervened inappropriately while an interview with her daughter was recorded.

The judge refused to grant bail pending appeal, despite argument that there was a "real risk of a miscarriage of justice having occurred".

Kruger, a divorced father of three, was convicted by a majority verdict of ten to two. He was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders' Register on his release from prison and banned for life from working with children.

Kruger, who had no previous convictions, told the jury he had been a successful businessman, earning up to £100,000 a year through involvement in his father's entertainment company and his own ventures.

His own business collapsed when the court case became public, and he was forced into bankruptcy.

The crown contests Kruger's appeal, arguing the fresh evidence was incapable of belief.