A divorcee already worth £90 million has won the right to fight to sue her former lover in the UK over tens of millions of assets after serving court papers on him via WhatsApp.

Mandy Gray, 50, is fighting Hamish Hurley, 46, her former fitness coach and physiotherapist after branding him an "emotionally abusive gold digger".

She had insisted the row, which involves assets spread across the globe, should be resolved by the UK courts, while Mr Hurley wanted it decided in his native New Zealand.

In what is thought to be the first case of its kind to be reported in open court, Mr Justice Lavender ruled on Tuesday that it had been valid for Ms Gray to serve vital court documents on her him using the WhatsApp message platform while he was in New Zealand and decided the case must therefore be decided in the UK.

Ms Gray was previously married to the wealthy American investment banker, Randy Work, walking away with a £90m settlement after they separated in 2013.

She then began an intense six-year relationship with Mr Hurley, her former personal health coach, during which they "led an international lifestyle and travelled the world".