Newport husband in £1.3m property row loses appeal (From South Wales Argus)

Newport husband in £1.3m property row loses appeal

12:30pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Gwent news

A NEWPORT man who hid the existence of a £1.3 million house from his ex-wife in a bitter legal row over cash had his appeal thrown out yesterday.

Paul Hutchings, 53, claimed he had been “physically and mentally destroyed” by his ex-spouse Michele Hutchings- Whelan, due to the effect of acrimonious legal proceedings which ended in the estranged couple confronting each other across a courtroom.

Mr Hutchings – who claims he faces eviction from his current home – challenged a court order from December, 2010, which directed him to pay a lump sum of £384,000 to his 50- year-old ex-wife.

In February, 2004, Mr Hutchings was told to pay his ex a £176,000 lump sum in “full settlement” of her claims.

The extra £384,000 was added due to his failure to make “full and frank disclosure of his assets.”

Lord Justice McFarlane, who rejected the property developer’s challenge to the December, 2010, ruling, told London’s Civil Appeal Court: “The existence of this property, let alone any interest that the husband might have in it, had not been disclosed at the time of the original divorce.”

This relates to a property in Commercial Street, Risca, bought for £250,000 but ultimately sold for £1.3 million Mr Hutchings, who told the Appeal Court he faces eviction from his present home in Newport, due to his financial circumstances, challenged the December, 2010, ruling with claims that the extent of his assets was grossly overestimated.

His ex-wife insisted he was “flush with funds” and was seen at the wheel of a £120,000 Bentley.

Mr Justice McFarlane said the county court judge found it hard to make clear findings about the current state of Mr Hutchings’ finances “because of his persistent attempts to conceal the true picture.”

Mr Hutchings’ appeal against the £384,000 lump sum payment was dismissed.