Tycoon faces losing £2m to ex-wife decades after split

A penniless mother-of-four was given the green light to fight for nearly £2million from her multi- millionaire ex-husband.

Dale Vince now faces a seven-figure legal bill on top of the divorce settle- ment for Kathleen Wyatt, 31 years after they first split.

Mr Vince was a hippy living on benefits in a converted ambulance when the couple broke up. Since then he has made every penny of his £110million fortune.

The “mad” landmark ruling at the Supreme Court will set alarm bells ringing for divorcees across Britain, legal experts warn.

Hannah Budd, of the International Family Law Group, said: “For many people this decision will be truly terrifying. There is now the prospect of ex-wives or husbands knocking on the door decades after their separation seeking financial support.”

Catherine Walker, of Shakespeares solicitors, said: “We should expect to see more opportunistic divorcees taking a closer interest in the finan-cial affairs of their ex as a result of this decision.”

Outside court Ms Wyatt, 55, called it an “important judgment”.

Her former husband branded it a “mad” decision.

In a statement Mr Vince, 53, said: “I’m disappointed that the Supreme Court has decided not to bring this case to an end now, more than 30 years since the relationship ended.

“We both moved on and started families of our own. We all have a right to move on and not be looking over our shoulders.

“This could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago. It’s mad in my opinion.”

Mr Vince and Ms Wyatt split in 1984 and divorced in 1992 after spending much of their two-year marriage travelling in a “peace convoy” of hippies.

Following the divorce, he cobbled together a Heath Robinson-style

wind turbine to power his ambu- lance. Within three years the vegan had set up a green energy company, Ecotricity, now worth £57million.

He lives with his new wife and their son in a £3million Georgian fort near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Meanwhile, Ms Wyatt remained penniless bringing up the couple’s son, Dane, and her other children in

Monmouth, south Wales. In 2010, she sued for a share of his new wealth, saying he left her destitute while he grew his business.

She was free to bring her claim because in family law there is no time limit to bring a financial case if it is not settled.

The High Court gave her the go-ahead in 2012 but appeal judges

later blocked the claim. Reversing that decision in the Supreme Court yesterday, Lord Wilson said Ms Wyatt had suffered “real hardship”.

But he added that her claim for nearly £2million was “unwise” and too high.

Lord Wilson said: “It is obvious that an award approaching that size is out of the question. Her claim

may even be dismissed but there is, in our opinion, a real prospect she will secure a comparatively modest award, perhaps of a size enabling her to buy a more comfortable mortgage-free home.”

There will now be a full hearing before a family judge in the High Court, who will decide what financial settlement Mr Vince must pay.