The judge said there was ‘no distinction’ between the couple’s marriage and post-divorce life (Picture: Getty)

A millionaire’s wife who was asked to stay on as his housekeeper when he moved his new lover into their home was yesterday handed a £6million payout.

The woman, in her 50s, said she found the offer by her husband of nearly 20 years ‘very demeaning and upsetting’, so she began a legal challenge for a share of a £13million ‘kitty’.

However, the man in his 70s, who has interests in a portfolio of property in London, could not understand why his wife ‘had become so aggressive’, High Court judge Mr Justice Bodey said.

He also threatened to ‘commit suicide or go on hunger strike’ if his wife ever took him to court hoping to gain her portion of his amassed wealth.




The couple married in the late 1970s, were divorced in the 1990s but, the judge stated, treated the divorce as ‘just a piece of paper’ and remained cohabiting. They did not have any children.

However, things changed five years ago when he met a new lover.

‘The husband installed the other woman, and her 12-year-old daughter, into the marital home,’ said Mr Justice Bodey. ‘The husband told [his wife] he was not intending her to vacate and would she remain as some sort of housekeeper.

‘He could not come to terms with why she, through her lawyers, had become so aggressive.’

Ruling in favour of the wife and awarding her £6.12million, the judge told the family division there was ‘no distinction’ between the pair’s marriage and their life post-divorce.