Wife discovers her ‘conman’ husband is ALREADY married a year after tying the knot (despite his first wife warning her the day before their wedding)
The love-rat had faked an email claiming his first marriage wasn’t legal
A distressed bride has spoken out about her heartbreak after discovering that her husband was actually a bigamist.
Monika Crudgington, 38, married ex-soldier Simon Crudgington, despite claims from his ex-wife that they were not yet divorced on the day before their wedding.
Writing off her objections as “bitterness” Monika went ahead with the big day.
But two years on her world fell apart when she found that Simon was a conman.
“I really thought he was the man of my dreams, but it turns out he was a lousy liar,” said Monika.
The couple met when Bosnia veteran Simon was managing the Genting Casino and Monika was working as a waitress in central London in 2012.
After her first shift working for him, they join colleagues for drinks but later she found herself alone with her handsome boss.
They strolled around London together and Simon opened up to her about his marriage and four children from two previous relationships but he said that he was trying to get divorced.
They went back to her flat in Wood Green together and their relationship started from then.
After just six months they began to discuss a future together.
“I told him I loved him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, but he really needed to get divorced,” Monika said.
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“He promised me he would sort something out and I had no reason to be suspicious. I was so madly in love with him and he’d never lied to me before.”
Two weeks later, Simon had some great new for the couple.
“He said he’d discovered from the local register office that his marriage to Elizabeth wasn’t legal, as the venue hadn’t been licensed to perform ceremonies.”
Delighted by the revelation they set about planning their own wedding, which was booked for June 27 2014, at a beautiful spot in Hostivice, near Prague, in Monika’s home country of Czech Republic.
A month before the ceremony, Simon confirmed to Monika that his first wedding was not legal by showing her an email from the registry office.
The words “your ceremony is null and void under British law” delighted the bride-to-be.
On the day before the wedding, Monika received a strange message from Simon’s “ex-wife” Elizabeth McLaren.
It said: “You and Simon can’t get married because we aren’t divorced.”
She dismissed the message as the actions of a jealous ex and forwarded the email from the registry office on the Elizabeth.
When she discussed the incident with Simon he insisted that the marriage had not been legal.
She said: “I remember him reiterating that they had never been legally married. He said, ‘Do you think I’d make that email up?’
“Feeling stupid for ever doubting him, I told Simon that, of course, I believed him. But I hated Elizabeth messaging me and causing trouble.”
Putting the unpleasantness behind her Monika went ahead with the wedding and then flew off to Spain to enjoy a romantic honeymoon with her new husband.
A month later after the couple moved to Dubai, where Simon had found a job, Elizabeth got in contact again.
“She said Simon had told her we’d only had a blessing in Prague, instead of a full wedding,” said Monika.
“She’d contacted the register office and apparently, they’d never sent the email saying their marriage wasn’t legal.”
Monika decided to take matters into her own hands and contacted the registry office herself.
They confirmed that they were licensed to conduct marriages and informed Monika that they had never sent the email.
Furious Monika threw her rings from the balcony of their Dubai apartment and flew straight back to her mother’s house in Prague where she informed the British police.
They confirmed that Simon was still married and he eventually admitted that he was a bigamist.
When confronted, he pleaded for her forgiveness, but for Monika it was too late and their relationship was over.
In May this year Simon was arrested and charged and two months later in July he pleaded guilty to making a false declaration to procure a marriage and bigamy at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in Staffordshire.
Monika didn’t attend the hearing and hasn’t spoken to him since the confrontation, although she has heard he was jailed for six months.
She said: “People ask me if I could forgive Simon, but I never could.”
In 2014 Simon had requested a quick divorce from Simon but she had refused, not wanting to rush into things.
Monika has now moved on, she said: “I’ve met another man, Michael. He’s sweet and kind and I trust completely now.
“Simon Crudgington was a conman. I deserve better.”