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TV divorce expert held over claims husband tried to poison her
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Evening Standard19.08.08
A television divorce pundit has been arrested for allegedly lying about a plot by her husband to poison her.
Lawyer Vanessa Lloyd Platt, who appears on TV shows including GMTV and Richard & Judy, told officers her then husband Daniel Lloyd Platt had tried to spike her food.
Following her allegations last year, police swooped on their £1.5 million home in Barnet. No charges were ever brought against him.
But on Friday the twice-divorced mother, 53, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. She was bailed until next month.
A police source said: "She alleges Daniel made comments about being a very good chemist who was able to poison her without anyone finding out. But when we looked at her story we had concerns."
She is said to have claimed she had proof. Her lawyer said: "She entirely refutes the allegations."
Having made a name for herself discussing the marital affairs of celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney and Roman Abramovich, Lloyd Platt suffered a similar fate when she split from Daniel three months ago, after 17 years of marriage.
A year after her wedding, she founded her firm, Lloyd Platt & Company, which has become one of the UK's leading family and divorce law firms.
It has represented a number of wellknown names, including Anne Diamond, Les Dennis and Lady Bienvenida Buck, as well as a succession of pop stars, models, and footballers.
Born in London, Lloyd Platt graduated from University College London in Law after initially studying Philosophy.
In January 2001 she published her book Secrets Of Relationship Success, which went on to become a bestseller.
The columnist and television presenter is now most recognisable for providing expert commentary on highprofile divorce cases.
She has two children, forensics worker Michael, 26, and Gary, 24, who is training to become a lawyer.
