Graham Mills challenged an order to pay an extra £4,000 a year in maintenance for his former wife’s rent and other expenses

Divorcees seeking a “second bite of the cherry” have been dealt a blow by the Supreme Court which ruled that a woman who spent all her settlement money cannot claim more from her former husband.

Graham Mills, 52, from Guildford, challenged an order by the Court of Appeal that he should pay an extra £4,090 a year to his former wife Maria, 52. He argued that he had provided enough (£230,000) for her to buy a house without a mortgage in 2002. Mrs Mills, who did take out a mortgage to buy a home for £345,000, said that she needed extra maintenance after losing all the capital in property deals and had rented a home since 2009.

Mr Mills said he gave enough for his ex-wife, Marie, to buy a house without borrowing RICHARD GITTINS/CHAMPION NEWS SERVICE

Five Supreme Court justices overturned the appeal court