A glamorous single mother claims she was made pregnant by the polo-playing Old Etonian son of Lincoln Cathedral’s lay Canon who then walked out on her at the hospital scan and now refuses to pay child support.
Georgina David said she was abandoned by former partner, James Reeve, and is struggling to bring up their child alone despite his family owning an 18th Century 20-bedroom stately home set among 3000-acres of countryside and owning a polo club.
Mr Reeve’s mother, Henrietta, was one of nine new canons collated and installed at Lincoln Cathedral in February.
With a potential scandal brewing, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, launched an investigation into the matter after being warned it could put his reputation and that of his diocese ‘in jeopardy’.
Georgina David, 34, is pictured with her baby son, Henry. Henry’s father is the old Etonian James Reeve, who lives in his family’s 20-bedroom stately home in Lincolnshire, worth £5m
Ms David, a legal aide, says that Mr Reeve (pictured), the son of Lincoln Cathedral’s lay Canon, was initially but then left her in the hospital when they went for their first scan
Ms David (pictured during her pregnancy) says the last time she saw Mr Reeve, 37, was when he abandoned her at the ultrasound. His family spokesman said he had no intention of having children with Ms David and accused her of lying to him about being on the contraceptive pill
Mr Reeve is yet to meet his baby son Henry (pictured), who was born in March. His mother Ms David says she just wants her former partner to acknowledge and celebrate the little boy’s life
The Department for Work and Pensions, which includes the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), are also monitoring the case after being contacted by Ms David’s local MP, who is supporting her claims.
Speaking to MailOnline, Ms David, who lives in a rented flat in Chelsea, West London, said: ‘We’ve just been left to fend for ourselves and it’s been a nightmare.
‘I have hardly any money, we are only managing to survive as it is thanks to financial help from my family, who are helping me pay the bills, yet he lives in a huge stately home and owns his own polo club.
‘He’s also a direct descendant from Edward III apparently. I would have expected more honourable behaviour coming from such nobility.
The 34-year-old legal aide said she has suffered Alopecia and has endured sustained stress and anxiety while attempting to care for her young son alone.
She said that she and Mr Reeve first met on Facebook but eventually started a six-month relationship.
She fell pregnant last summer and gave birth to a baby boy, Henry, in March this year but says Mr Reeve has not once seen his son.
‘We were seeing each other for about six months when I fell pregnant by accident last summer.
‘He took the news well initially and after talking it over we decided that at our age if it didn’t happen for us now it might never happen so we decided to keep the baby.
Speaking to MailOnline, Ms David (pictured) who lives in a rented flat in Chelsea and receives no financial support, said: ‘We’ve just been left to fend for ourselves and it’s been a nightmare’
Ms David’s local vicar, Rev Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard felt compelled to write to the Bishop of Lincoln, who launched an investigation. Her case has been taken up by her MP Greg Hands, said he will raising Ms David’s case with Justin Tomlinson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Maintenance
Despite his family’s vast wealth, Mr Reeve (left), who is close to his mother Henrietta, a lay Canon at Lincoln Cathedral (right), he is not required to give his former partner any financial support for their son because Mr Reeve claims to not have a current salary and says he is only given a modest income from his family as he runs their polo club in Lincolshire
Mr Reeve lives in his family’s home Leadenham House (pictured), a sprawling estate built in 1790, worth at least £5m which boasts stunning views over the surrounding Lincolnshire countryside that has been in their family for generations
‘At first James was very supportive and stood by me when I was told I had an ectopic pregnancy and later when I was wrongly diagnosed with a miscarriage.
‘That all changed though a few months in. He began to cool on the idea of being a father and abandoned me when we went for a scan and blood test.
‘I’ve no idea why, maybe it all became too real for him and it was too much to take.
‘But I’m the one whose now bringing up our son and he should pay his fair share.
‘It’s not me that I feel for, it’s Henry. He’s his son and the fact that he’s not bothered to even meet him is heartbreaking.’
Ms David says she is being crippled financially because she cannot afford child care to go back to work.
Her local vicar, Reverend Prebendary Dr Brian Leathard, Rector of Chelsea, felt compelled to write to the Bishop of Lincoln, who runs the diocese.
In the letter, Rev Leathard says he wishes to ‘institute a formal complaint in respect of a pastorally unacceptable situation, which has clear safeguarding implications and, if proven, has potential to place Lincoln’s reputational position in jeopardy’.
He adds: ‘James, early in the pregnancy accompanied Georgie to a hospital appointment and during the appointment left his pregnant partner in the hospital, as I understand, never seeing her again.
‘James has never visited his son, though I understand he does not dispute parentage.
‘Georgie reports that her sole wish is for her son with James to be acknowledged by the family, to rejoice in a precious new human life.
‘I think it is very likely that Georgie will seek the legal and financial support to which she is entitled from James Reeve and I fear for the repute of one of Lincolns’ Lay Canons should this matter burst into the public realm.’
The Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, Greg Hands, said he will raising Ms David’s case with Justin Tomlinson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Maintenance.
The CMS calculates payment costs from declared annual income but does not currently take into consideration a person’s assets.
Mr Reeve claims to not have a current salary and says he is only given a modest income from his family.
However the Reeves own Leadenham House, a sprawling estate built in 1790, worth at least £5m which boasts stunning views over the surrounding Lincolnshire countryside that has been in their family for generations.
They also own the three floor Grade II-listed High House in Leadenham, worth £700,000 and the Leadenham Polo Club and Manor House, which can be hired out as a wedding venue or for stag and hen parties.
The club also runs £200-a-head ‘Polo Weekends’ and sells merchandise, such as polo shirts, hoodies and jackets, for between £45 and £100.
Ms David, who met Mr Reeve on Facebook and dated him for six months before falling pregnant, says she is financially crippled because she can’t afford child care to go back to work
Ms David, a legal aide, pictured during happier times, said she has suffered Alopecia and endured sustained stress and anxiety while attempting to care for her young son alone
A family spokesman for Mr Reeve said he only ever wanted a casual relationship and believes Ms David (pictured with their son) lied when she told him she was taking the contraceptive pill
Mr Hands has taken umbrage to the fact that an individual’s assets are not currently included when calculating the amount of child maintenance owed.
Ms David believes that her former partner has declared no earnings to HMRC because his polo club is a not-for-profit organisation
Mr Reeve and his mother declined to discuss the matter when contacted by MailOnline.
However a family spokesman said Mr Reeve only ever wanted a casual relationship and believes Ms David lied when she told him she was taking the contraceptive pill.
The spokesman added: ‘Mr Reeve has cooperated fully with the CMS.
‘He paid Ms David the amount assessed by the CMS based on their initial estimate.
‘When the CMS carried out a further review however it was clear that he lacked a current salary and was only in receipt of a modest income from his family.
‘The CMS then assessed him as being unable to pay any maintenance at the current time. Mr Reeve continues to cooperate with the CMS.
‘Ms David must have been fully aware of the assessments made and would have had money paid into her account during the first assessment.’
A spokesman for the Bishop of Lincoln confirmed he was asked to intervene personally.
He said: ‘The matter was referred to the Bishop of Lincoln who asked for an investigation. The conclusion was that this is a private matter for the two parents of the child.’
The DWP said of the case that they are ‘committed to doing all we can to recover child maintenance payments that are owed.’
A spokesman said: ‘Legislation has recently passed through Parliament that will help tackle issues around self-employment and enable us to take into account a person’s assets – including property, savings and investments – as well as their self-declared income.’