Doctors encourage children to be promiscuous Victoria Gillick

When she heard the verdict Mrs Gillick, 36, burst into tears and collapsed into her husband's arms shouting, "God Almighty, that's ridiculous."

"The judge doesn't realise there are a large number of doctors happily encouraging children to be promiscuous," she added, shaking with emotion.

Counsel for Mrs Gillick, Mr Gerard Wright QC, had argued the act of giving contraceptive advice or treatment was "very close" to the criminal offence of aiding and abetting unlawful sexual intercourse.

The judge told the court: "I would regard the pill prescribed to the woman as not so much the 'instrument for a crime or anything essential to its commission,' but a palliative against the consequences of the crime."

Mrs Gillick's husband Gordon, 32, a designer, told reporters the case had cost more than £7,600, although a large proportion was paid by legal aid.

The couple - from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire - said they would continue the fight and remortgage their 13-bedroom Georgian home if necessary.

Mrs Gillick, a Roman Catholic, has been in a four-year dispute over the issue with West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority.

She says she has received thousands of letters of support and has the backing of the National Housewives Association with its 25,000 members.

The Family Planning Association has welcomed the judgement.

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