World Gone Mad

Many people would probably share the disbelief of Dennis North when, last year, he was ordered to pay his first wife, Jean, a further sum of £202,000 having been divorced from her for nearly 30 years.

Dennis and Jean North's marriage ended in 1977 when she left him and their three children for another man. Divorce proceedings followed in 1978 and, in 1981, a financial settlement was reached which provided Jean with a house and an income derived from rents and other properties. Notwithstanding this generous financial provision, as was common at the time, Jean was also awarded what is known as a nominal maintenance order i.e. a sum of 5 pence per annum, essentially as a ‘safety net’. In the intervening years Dennis remarried and his fortunes improved as his business thrived. By 2006 he was enjoying his well earned retirement. To his credit he had also made further voluntary payments to Jean.