Couple’s Holiday Inn wedding ends in court as bloke is married to another woman

A couple's fairytale Holiday Inn wedding ended in a trip to court as it was found the husband-to-be was still married to another woman.

Mark Rowlands tied the knot with new wife Kerry Adams, a nurse, at a Holiday Inn the day after Valentine's Day back in 2020.

But it turned out the 47-year-old had not quite annulled his previous marriage to Hayley, who he made his vows to back in 2012, a court has heard.

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Catching wind of Mark's third marriage, Hayley, his second wife, contacted police and informed them he was in fact a bigamist and was still committed to another woman while committing to Kerry.

Rowlands, who initially denied bigamy, which carries a punishment of up to seven years in prison, later changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial.

He appeared at Chester Magistrates Court, where he was told to pay the legal fees to finalise his divorce to Hayley while also pay for a new wedding to legalise his marriage to Kelly, Metro reported.

On top of that, a prosecution cost of £456 and £346 victim surcharge were presented also.

Leanne Gallagher, prosecuting, said: "Mr Rowlands and Hayley Brown legally married at the Royal Clifton Hotel in Southport in 2012. They separated two or three years later after the relationship broke down but never legally divorced.

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"They remained separated mainly due to the lack of funds on behalf of Miss Brown and she changed her name back to Brown by deed poll in 2019.

"He said he had no intention to deceive. But he has not provided any documents or the decree nisi that gave him the belief that he was divorced. It is just what he is saying"

Rowlands' representation, Stephen Ferns, said: "Hayley has suffered no detriment as a result of what has happened. She wanted to be divorced from Mr Rowlands, so much so that she had a change of name by deed poll.

"They have now been separated for quite some time. They are struggling financially but my client has now had to put his hands in his pocket to pay for the divorce and then has to pay for a wedding to Kerry to take place legally."

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