Gaywood bigamist in wedding sham
A LORRY driver has admitted bigamy after marrying a woman 33 years his junior while still being wed to his first wife.
Judge Peter Thompson said Randolph Edge (54) had breached his innocent bride's trust and made her wedding day a sham.
But Edge, of 22 Parkway, Gaywood was spared jail after Norwich Crown Court heard he had remained friends with his second wife and is reviving the relationship with his first.
Instead, he was sentenced to a supervision order and 100 hours community service.
Edge was found out after a guest who was invited to both weddings, which both took place at Lynn Register Office, raised concerns, the court was told yesterday.
Judge Peter Thompson said: "You quite consciously decided to marry a 21-year-old woman, many years younger than you, who was completely convinced you were free and enjoyed a wedding day which was all a sham.
"A mitigating feature is she now has a friendly relationship with you and does not want you to go to prison.
"You are very lucky. The last person I sentenced for bigamy went to prison.
"You breached her trust and you breached the law."
Edge married first wife Edna Winkle in 2002 then later separated from her and met Patience Carey, prosecutor Frank Ferguson told the court.
Then in June last year he married her despite never going through a divorce.
The court heard an impact statement from Miss Carey, which said she was initially shocked by what happened, but now just wanted to get on with her life and did not want Edge to go to prison.
In mitigation Jonathan Morgans said Edge and his second wife were now better friends than ever and have resolved their problems, while his first wife was supporting him in court and the pair were planning to "give things another go".
He said: "He had suffered a bereavement, taken to drink and suffered depression.
"He was separated from his first wife at the time of this relationship and it got beyond him.
"He was under some pressure to get married in the new relationship and did not act responsibly in the way he should have done."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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