County bigamist sentenced

Wednesday 12th May 2010, 3:05PM BST.

James Fletcher

A Shropshire bigamist was this afternoon spared an immediate jail sentence.

Shrewsbury man James Fletcher’s actions were described by a judge as a “first rate scandal”.

Fletcher, 51, of Moreton Crescent, Shrewsbury, was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year, after he admitted marrying American Mar- garet Peters while married to Sarah Whalley.

For pictures and interviews see Thursday’s Shropshire Star

The love cheat was also given a 12-month supervision order at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Mr Rob Edwards, prosecuting, said Fletcher married Miss Whalley in 1984 but walked out on her in 1996 to go to America.

The same year he married Miss Peters in Geneva, New York. The court heard the marriage to Miss Peters failed and in 2008 Fletcher told her he had to go to London for a conference.

He never returned leaving her and their adopted son with huge debts.

The court heard today Fletcher has since married again and his new wife is expecting a child in August.

In a victim statement, Miss Peters said Fletcher leaving caused her huge financial problems. She was on the brink of homelessn- ess and living on food stamps and public assistance.

Miss Peters said she and her son were now in therapy after Fletcher abandoned them and their son felt a “great sense of betrayal”.

She added: “We trusted with our entire soul and he has broken our lives.”

Judge Mark Eades told Fletcher anyone who heard about his offence would view it as a “first rate scandal”.

The judge added: “When the going got tough, you fled your responsibilities.”

Mrs Joanne Griffiths, for Fletcher, said her client had done all he could do clear the American debts. He had not gone out to deceive the women and was ashamed of the way he had behaved.

View more: Shrewsbury news.