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UK Wedding News

15/08/2013

Bigamist Exposed Via Facebook Photos

A man has been exposed as a bigamist after his wife found photos of his second marriage on Facebook.

According to the Daily Mail, Thomas Lee Hornsby, who is from Sunderland, split with his first wife in February 2011 following an affair he had with Joanne Henderson.

Hornsby then married Ms Henderson – but did not get a divorce from his first relationship.

The 37-year-old, who has bipolar disorder, tied the knot with Henderson in April this year, and it was shortly afterwards that his crime was discovered.

His first wife had spotted photographs of her estranged partner celebrating with his new wife and guests.

She then contacted the police, admitting she was "shocked and embarrassed" to find out about her ex's deception via the social networking site.

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In a police interview, Hornsby admitted he had gone ahead with the second ceremony knowing he was still married. He also pleaded guilty to the charge of bigamy at an earlier hearing.

Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard that he had lied to a city registrar about being married when planning his new nuptials.

Rebecca Laverick, prosecuting, said: "A registrar at Sunderland Civic Centre said that she had had a meeting with the defendant and his new wife prior to the wedding ceremony.

"She said that they met on February 26 and went through the formalities.

"She questioned him about whether or not he had been previously married and he said no."

A decree nisi was put in place in May 2012, but was not made absolute.

Gavin Sword, defending, said: "There was no financial gain in this case and no immigration issues.

"I don't think it (the wedding) can have come as any great surprise. They had been in a relationship for at least a year at this point.

"Whilst there was a deception to the registrar, I don't think there was to either of the two ladies in this case."

Following the discovery of Mr Hornsby's two marriages, his union to Ms Henderson was deemed void.

He was sentenced him to eight weeks in prison, suspended for six months.

Upon sentencing, chairman of the bench Eric Reay said: "The reason for this is the deliberate deception you put about in the lead up to your second marriage.

"You deceived the registrar, you deceived your first wife and your new wife.

"This was deliberate."

(JP/CD)

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"A man has been exposed as a bigamist after his wife found photos of his second marriage on Facebook."