Judge hopes divorce case will act as a warning

Sir Peter Singer, sitting in the High Court, said that Clive Joy-Morancho had attempted to deceive the court about his financial circumstances and ordered that he pay the total sum of Nichola Joy’s costs within 14 days.

The Judge said that the case should act as a deterrent to others who try to twist the truth about their situation.

“Such cases are relatively few in number but this is such a case,” he said.

“Such cases should be fewer in number, and may become so if the costs outcome for such reprehensible conduct is clearly in prospective focus from the off.”

The long-running legal dispute, which was described as “convoluted” by Sir Peter, had started over four years ago.

The case centred on claims by Mr Joy-Morancho that many of his assets were tied up in a trust and he could not access them.

The Judge ruled that the husband should make periodical payments of £120,000 plus an adjournment of his wife’s capital costs.

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