Cheating husband loses court bid to get back £3,000 he spent on his former mistress

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A cheating husband who tried to reclaim £3,000 from his mistress after their affair turned sour has lost his court battle for a refund.

Health and safety consultant Geoffrey Fitch, 60, embarked on a two-year relationship with Gillian Mitchell, who visited lonely hearts websites.

A judge heard that he gave the 53-year-old divorced mother-of-three jewellery and took her on dinner dates, visits to the theatre and trips abroad.

But only two weeks after they moved in together their on-off relationship ended when Mr Fitch accused Mrs Mitchell of cheating on him.

Mr Fitch told Lewes County Court in East Sussex: 'While we were together she continued to visit websites such as Girlsdateforfree, Loopylove and Friends Reunited Dating.

'She constantly took telephone calls from another man, or men, which reinforces my claim that she has a number of different partners.'

Mr Fitch, of Ringmer, East Sussex, said he gave Mrs Mitchell a £2,000 loan to pay off a council tax bill and paid off an £800 debt and £157 garage bill. He launched legal action to try to recoup the cash.

On dating website Girlsdateforfree.com Mrs Mitchell's chat-up line is: 'Looking for Mr Right, could that be you?'

Mrs Mitchell, a £15,000-a-year waitress, said she believed the sums Mr Fitch handed her were gifts and branded him 'an habitual liar'.

She said: 'From day one he told me his marital status was as a single man and that him and his wife led separate lives.

'At no time did I ask him for the money and nothing was put in writing.'

Lonely heart: Gillian Mitchell's advertisement on website Girlsdateforfree.com

Dismissing his claim, Judge John Merrick told Mr Fitch: 'It seems to me that as far as the law is concerned this was an informal friendly arrangement. It was not intended to be a commercial arrangement.

'It could have easily been dealt with by a letter or an IOU but you didn't do that.'

After the case, Mr Fitch said he was re-building his 31-year marriage to his wife Pearl.