Kathleen Wyatt, 55, has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to pursue a financial claim against her ex-husband, Dale Vince, the founder of green energy firm Ecotricity, more than three decades after their marriage ended. The couple separated in the early 1980s after a brief relationship and were formally divorced in 1992.
Wyatt, who lives in Monmouth with few assets, is seeking £1.9 million from Vince, now 53 and worth an estimated £57 million. Vince, who lives in a Georgian hill fort in Gloucestershire, opposed the claim, arguing that the delay was prejudicial and that no paperwork remained from the era.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the family court could not strike out Wyatt's claim without a full hearing, noting that her greater contribution to raising their son over many years might justify a modest financial order. However, the justices warned that the long delay and brief marriage present “formidable difficulties,” and that an award approaching the claimed sum is “out of the question.”
Lord Wilson, delivering the judgment, stated: “It is a dangerous fallacy... that the current law always requires rich men to meet the reasonable needs of their ex-wives.” Wyatt must now return to the High Court to pursue her claim.
Vince expressed disappointment, saying: “This could signal open season for people who had brief relationships a quarter of a century ago... it’s mad in my opinion.” His lawyers noted that the lack of records makes it hard to defend the case. Wyatt’s solicitors, Mishcon de Reya, welcomed the clarity of the decision, asserting their client has a strong case.
Legal experts highlight that the ruling underscores the importance of obtaining a final financial order upon divorce to prevent future claims, regardless of the time elapsed.
