Bigamist spared immediate jail term after he pretended to be divorced to take second wife

Arjinder Singh from Cannock went through with a ceremony to 'marry' Fiona Watkins, despite never having finalised his divorce, Stafford Crown Court heard

The defendant had married his lawful wife, Gurpreet Kaur in India before divorcing her in 2008. But the couple were remarried in 2011 and although they split up for a second time, no second divorce procedure was carried out.

Mr Neil Ahuja, prosecuting, said Singh went on to commit to marry Miss Watkins and the couple went through a ceremony at Moddershall Oaks, near Stafford on July 25 this year.

The unlawful 'marriage' was recorded at Stafford Register Office and the court was told that they are now trying to make a go of their relationship despite his deception.

When the deception was discovered, Singh was questioned by police. He said he had signed over the marital home to his estranged wife on the understanding that she would divorce him. He and Miss Watkins had been together for about 18 months and although no divorce papers came through, he went ahead with the wedding plans.

Singh, aged 42, of Skylark Close, Cannock, who admitted a charge of bigamy, was given a four month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to do 133 hours unpaid community work and to pay £380 costs and surcharge.

"When you went through this ceremony with Fiona Watkins, you knew you were committing bigamy. That day which was supposed to be special for her and which she had planned and paid for, was effectively destroyed because it was founded on a lie.

Mr Stephen Rudge, defending, said that if Singh were sent to jail "his partner will almost suffer twice. She is still with the defendant, they are trying to make what they can of the relationship, it's an incredible strain. There has been costs to her organising the wedding. The defendant is in full time employment and he gives his entire wage packet to her."