A wealthy divorcee has failed in a bid to appeal against an award of £4.25 million to his ex-wife.
Now 65, the man had married the unnamed Ukrainian woman in Las Vegas in October 2011. They had previously lived together for several years, at one point splitting up and then reconciling. But their eventual marriage proved short-lived, and the couple separated after just 23 months. His now ex-wife is a full 27 years younger than him.
During the subsequent divorce proceedings, the former husband had offered £2 million while she pressed for £6 million. His Honour Judge Bernard Wallwork made the subsequent settlement award at a hearing in the Manchester Family Court last year, choosing a sum which falls roughly halfway between the amount sought and that offered.
He noted the woman’s health problems and reduced ability to work, saying the marriage had caused her “serious psychological harm”.
At the Court of Appeal the former husband argued that the settlement was too generous for such a short marriage. But Family Court President Mr Justice Mostyn dismissed the claim, saying Judge Wallwork’s ruling was “legitimate”.
He continued:
“It may have been generous, and other judges may have awarded less, but both the assessment of the immediate capital need, and of the amount and duration of the quotidian need, were clearly within the legitimate bracket.”
Read the ruling here.
