A husband and wife escaped jail 'by the skin of their teeth' after forging divorce papers in a bid to wed more quickly.

Edward and Marie Evans married after falsifying documents at Hastings County Court to speed up Mr Evans's split from his ex-wife.

Mr Evans married his ex-wife, Georgina Coles, during a temporary break-up in his long term relationship with Marie.

Realising the marriage was ill-fated, he decided to end the relationship without consulting his wife in order to marry Marie, Lewes Crown Court heard.

Jobless Edward Evans, 63, admitted forging a signature on divorce papers and giving a false address for his ex-wife, whom he wed in 1991.

The court heard how he tricked the courts into believing his former wife had agreed to the divorce when in reality she knew nothing about it.

Mother-of-three Marie Evans, 60, was convicted of perverting the course of justice. She was accused of falsely filling out a 'critical' document and handing it into Hastings County Court between June and November, 1997.

Iain Wicks, defending Edwdard Evans, said: "It has always been his contention that he was the instigator of all this. It was done foolishly and he did it because he wanted to bring about marriage to Marie.

"They had been together since 1983 and had brought up each other's children and been recognised as man and wife.

"Later the relationship had hit difficulties and a separation had taken place. In that time the marriage to the complainant took place.

"Within the resurrection of his relationship with Marie, he sought to bring about his marriage without having contact with his actual wife".

Recorder Robert Akenhead, QC, said: "The fact that the divorce might have been obtained easily in any event is neither here nor there".

He added: "The offence involved forging information and a signature on an important form in the divorce process.

"It involved forgery, dishonesty and deception. You provided a false address for the former wife which was set up with a friend of yours.

"The form was sent to that address so the court was misled that the divorce was consented by the former wife.

"By the skin of your teeth I am prepared to impose a community service order".

Edward Evans, of Braunton, Devon, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Marie Evans was convicted on a similar charge.

Edward Evans was given 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay £400 costs.

Marie Evans was given 100 hours of community service and ordered to pay £650 costs.

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