 |
Cecil SayerElderly British teacher accused of bigamy
Date of Birth: 01.01.1944
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Cecil Sayer: Former Educator Found Guilty of Bigamy
- Second Marriage and Legal Troubles
- International Relocation and Health Issues
- Deceitful Visa Application
- Second Wife's Discovery and Confession
- Court Hearing and Sentencing
Cecil Sayer: Former Educator Found Guilty of Bigamy
Accusation and ConvictionCecil Sayer, a 75-year-old British teacher, was accused of bigamy after marrying a 46-year-old woman in the Dominican Republic while still legally married to someone else. His failure to finalize his divorce from his first wife brought him into conflict with the law.
Second Marriage and Legal Troubles
Sayer met and married his second wife, a former school kitchen assistant, on December 20, 2006. Unbeknownst to her, he had not legally divorced his first wife at the time. The divorce would not be finalized until a few years after the second marriage.
International Relocation and Health Issues
The couple moved to China with Sayer's two children. After a move to Vietnam, Sayer suffered a stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. This prompted their return to the Dominican Republic, where his second wife became his caretaker. Financial difficulties led to their decision to seek relocation to the UK.
Deceitful Visa Application
In his visa application, Sayer failed to disclose his marriage to his second wife, falsely stating that she was his carer. "The essence of the offense is that the defendant didn't want to make public the fact that his second marriage was unlawful," the prosecutor argued in court.
Second Wife's Discovery and Confession
On May 17, 2011, Sayer's second wife was granted leave to remain with him. However, their relationship deteriorated. Sometime between August 2012 and August 2018 (the exact date is uncertain), she discovered documents revealing her husband's prior marriage.
Sayer, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, had no choice but to admit to bigamy. His remorse was acknowledged in court, as was his "hard-working life."
Court Hearing and Sentencing
Judge Paul Watson addressed Sayer, stating that at 75 he had no prior convictions. "You have lived a decent, hard-working and respected life, and it is a great shame that you find yourself before the Crown Court at your age charged with, in technical terms, a serious offense."
"When I first looked at this case, I thought the inevitable sentence would be immediate imprisonment," Watson said. "But on reading more, it became clear this was not a case where somebody was deceiving their first wife, leading some sort of double life."
Cecil Sayer was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £750 in court costs within six months.
