A bigamist has been jailed after his first wife discovered images of his second wedding on his Facebook page, a court was told.
Simon Crudgington wed a new partner in Prague – but he never divorced Elizabeth, his first wife. After finding images of his second wedding on the Facebook, the “manipulative” 40-year-old went to great lengths to cover up his lies and even sent her a fake e-mail which stated their marriage was null and void.
The ex-solider and dad-of-two has now been jailed for six months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting to lying that he was free to marry.
Daily Mirror reports that Joanne Barker, prosecuting, told the court the defendant married Elizabeth McLaren in August 2006 after meeting her four years earlier.
The pair moved to the town of Biddulph, in Staffordshire, in 2009 but he left the marital home in 2012 when their marriage broke down.
“She discovered photos on Facebook of the defendant’s wedding in Prague on June 27, 2014. She was a little bit surprised given her marriage had never legally ceased.”
When Elizabeth contacted her husband he said it was nothing more than a blessing ceremony and was not a legal marriage.
But her uncle contacted Cruddington’s new wife who was unaware he was still married to Elizabeth.
Judge Paul Glen, jailing the bigamist, said:
“You signed a notice which makes it very clear the possible consequences of making a false declaration.”Soon after you manufactured an email purporting to be addressed to you that your first marriage was null and void.”That shows devious and manipulative behaviour. These are serious offences. You caused great concern to your wife and to the lady you went through a form of marriage with in Prague. “You are a selfish man.”