Ex-Progressive Labour Party MP Trevor Woolridge yesterday had his sexual assault conviction quashed after a judge ruled that the trial Magistrate's links with the ruling United Bermuda Party created a risk of bias.

But last night Saul Froomkin QC -- who represented the woman who accused Mr.

Woolridge -- said he would be lodging an appeal against the decision with the Court of Appeal as soon as possible.

He was speaking after Chief Justice Austin Ward told a Supreme Court appeal hearing: "I am satisfied that the conduct of the trial was unfair to the appellant -- there was a real possibility of injustice as regards bias.'' Mr. Justice Ward added that -- in the context of Bermudian society -- there was a "manifest connection'' in having a member of one political party, Acting Magistrate Michael Smith, sit in judgment of another.

He said: "Justice was not done, nor was it seen to be done. For these and other reasons the appeal is allowed and the conviction is quashed.'' He added he would issue his full reasons in writing at a later date.

But Mr. Froomkin said: "We have 21 days to lodge an appeal. I am hoping the written reasons for this decision might come out within that time -- other than that we can only appeal on the one ground which has been indicated.'' During the appeal hearing, Mr. Woolridge's lawyer said that he understood Mr.

Smith was an approved candidate for the UBP.

But last night, the UBP's Central Office said Mr. Smith was not an approved candidate -- and had not been for some time, certainly not during the Magistrates' Court trial.

A UBP spokesman said approved candidates have to formally renew their claim every year. Mr. Smith was written to earlier this year but never responded and was taken off the list.

The spokesman was unable to confirm if Mr. Smith was a member of the UBP. Mr.

Smith did not return a call from The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Mr. Woolridge -- a churchman booted from the pulpit by the ruling body of the AME Church after his conviction for groping a woman parishioner's breasts -- looked tired and relieved after Mr. Justice Ward's judgment.

The Hamilton East MP quit his party to sit as an Independent after a public outcry following his conviction last month.

The Island's senior AME churchman Rev. Malcolm Eve and PLP leader Jennifer Smith yesterday ducked calls from The Royal Gazette .

In his resignation letter to PLP leader Jennifer Smith, however, Mr. Woolridge signalled that he could take action against the AME hierarchy for firing him.

Mr. Woolridge, who later spoke out to the Royal Gazette for the first time, said just after his court appearance: "I will speak, but not right now.

"The only thing I'm prepared to say at this time is that I'm intensely grateful to Mr. Richard Hector for his work and for that I say thank you.'' Mr. Hector added: "I'm very pleased at the outcome -- but I will reserve any comment until later.'' He added he had no instructions from Mr. Woolridge about legal moves to win back his church post.

Mr. Justice Ward delivered his judgment minutes after the end of evidence.

He said the matter was so important -- not just to the parties involved, but to the AME Church and Parliament -- that he should not delay his decision.

Mr. Woolridge was convicted in Magistrates' Court last month of sexually assaulting the woman parishioner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at her home in September last year.

It was found that he had exposed his private parts in the living room and grabbed the woman after she asked him to leave. He was not sentenced pending an appeal.