The sculptor who is suing his muse lover for the rent

Sculptor Am Afifi, who is married, met Gillian Roberts, 53, on a coach to Heathrow in 2001, she said.

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He asked her to become his muse and to use her as an inspiration for his work.

For seven years she lived in one of his flats and their relationship became sexual, she said.

Although she had signed a tenancy agreement, the divorcee told Exeter County Court that she believed their sexual relationship had negated the terms.

But last year, Dr Afifi, who had become ill, ended their affair and demanded she start paying him more rent for the one-bedroom flat, she explained.

The mother of two believed that the nature of their relationship meant she was no longer "morally" his tenant and so she refused to leave the property in Dawlish, Devon.

The artist then began legal proceedings to have her ejected.

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He launched a civil action in which he denied any "improper" relationship.

Stephen Clegg, representing Mrs Roberts, said Dr Afifi had "at least partially" supported her and she was only ever asked to pay £200 to £300 a month in rent.

"My client is strongly of the personal view that she doesn't consider that she's morally a tenant in this case," she said.

However, the judge ruled that it was not relevant whether they had had an affair, as he had only to rule on whether the tenancy agreement was enforceable.

Deputy District Judge John Healey said: "It's immediately apparent from the papers that there's a significant dispute between the two parties as to whether or not there was a relationship of the sort that Ms Roberts has described.

"I can understand how Ms Roberts may feel that the relationship, as she alleges it to have been, impacts on the matter of the tenancy, but it seems to me that the nature of that tenancy is on its face perfectly unambiguous."

He ordered her to vacate the apartment within 42 days.

Egyptian-born Dr Afifi, 62, is an internationally known artist who has held exhibitions and sculpture-trails in Britain and France.

His works sell for up to £1,000.

He says Mrs Roberts acted as a letting agent for his other properties.

In an email, he said: "My relationship with her has always been a respectable business relationship.

"She takes an interest in my sculpture hobby and follows my exhibitions."

The father of two added: "Notice was served on her several months later and it was then that the claims of an improper relationship were made."

After the ruling, Mrs Roberts, who works as an estate agent, said: "We had a relationship for seven years.

"It is not like it was only seven months. How can he kick me out on the streets after we were so close for so long?"