Bigamy accused: My earlier ‘marriage’ never legal

AN IT consultant alleged to have secretly married another woman behind his wife’s back was involved in a sham marriage to allow his illegal Peruvian wife a visa in the UK, a court has heard.

IT consultant Iain Theyers, 45, of Balloch, near Inverness, tied the knot with Marian Belahonia, 38, in the front room of her parents’ home in Peru, three days after her divorce and while pregnant with his child, Hull Crown Court heard.

Ms Belahonia, who could not marry in the UK because she had illegally overstayed a visa, was accused of fixing a quick sham marriage in Peru by recruiting a close friend of her fathers to officiate as mayor. Nine days later in Ate Birate, near the capital Lima, Ms Belahonia applied at the British embassy for a UK spouse visa, giving her permission to return to live in Britain.

The couple returned to set up home six months later with their newborn son. However, after four years the marriage ended and Theyers moved out – cutting ties with Ms Belahonia, leaving her to hire a private detective to find him when she decided to file for divorce. Ms Belahonia only found out on Facebook that he had married again when she saw a picture of Theyers and new wife Louise Martin.

Iain Theyers is accused of illegally marrying Ms Martin in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, on December 30, 2011, while still being married to Ms Belahonia. The father of four denies his marriage with Ms Belahonia was ever legal, claiming he was in emotional turmoil.

The jury was shown wedding pictures of Theyers and Ms Belahonia with flowers in the wedding dress he bought for her in Peru.

The trial continues.