Bigamist Michael Eels, 59, who secretly juggled two family lives and tried to cover his tracks by claiming he was dying was jailed for three months on Valentine’s Day, at Lewes Crown Court, Sussex
A bigamist who secretly juggled two family lives and tried to cover his tracks by claiming he had terminal cancer was jailed for three months on Valentine’s Day.
Michael Eels, from Eastbourne, lived a double life for years after marrying a second woman and moving 345 miles with her to Northumberland – telling his first wife he had gone to receive palliative care.
The 59-year-old told his first wife Andrea Etheridge-Eels and their three children he had to move 345 miles north to Newcastle where he would receive ‘the best possible treatment’ for his illness, Lewes Crown Court in Sussex heard.
He told his family he was suffering from terminal cancer on a holiday when in actual fact he had met his second wife-to-be Sally Howard online, and planned to start a new life with her.
They moved to Northumberland together after tying the knot in Sussex where Eels borrowed £4,000 from Ms Howard’s father to pay for the wedding.
The court heard Eels, who pleaded guilty to bigamy last month, would travel back to Eastbourne monthly to spend three or four days with his family in his marital home.
Eels double life was exposed when Miss Howard discovered a Christmas card to her husband from Andrea.
She searched for Andrea on Facebook and messaged her to find out who she was.
The 59-year-old told his first wife Andrea Etheridge-Eels (pictured left in 2017 and right on their wedding day) and their three children he had to move 345 miles north to Newcastle where he would receive ‘the best possible treatment’ for his illness
Andrea opened the message last year and the two met up and, to their disbelief, found out they were married to the same man. Eels was handed three months behind bars for the crime. Both his wives read their victim impact statements to the court
Andrea opened the message last year and the two met up and, to their disbelief, found out they were married to the same man.
Eels was handed three months behind bars for the crime. Both his wives read their victim impact statements to the court.
Andrea fought the tears as she said: ‘Finding out that my husband had remarried came as a great shock to me.
‘I genuinely believed he was suffering from jugular cancer. This caused me stress and worry.
‘I had no one to talk to as I had to remain strong for our children. My children have been left without a father and no financial or emotional support.’
Eels left both women in financial trouble and Ms Howard had to start selling her own belongings to stay afloat as he would not let her look for a job.
Judge Christine Laing QC handed Eels three months in prison and ordered him to pay both women £1,000 each in compensation following the trial at Lewes Crown Court, Sussex
When her mother died, she had to use her inheritance to pay Eels’s debts. The £4,000 borrowed was also never paid back.
Mrs Eels, who lives at their home in Eastbourne – who was working two-and-a-half-hours a day – now works ten hours a day, five days a week to make ends meet.
Judge Christine Laing QC handed Eels three months in prison and ordered him to pay both women £1,000 each in compensation.
A restraining order was also imposed on him, preventing him from contacting either wife indefinitely.