Bigamist spotted on Facebook with new ‘bride’

Brian Frain, 36, thought his first marriage to Anne-Marie Sim “no longer existed” because it was “only for two months” and long ago.

But after she discovered his second “wedding”, this time to Louise Meredith, Frain, of Cleethorpes in North-East Lincolnshire, was prosecuted and is now facing a possible jail sentence after admitting bigamy when he appeared at court.

Frain married Ms Sim at Tameside Register Office, in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, in June 1999 after a two-month “whirlwind romance”.

But they separated after just two months and she moved to Scotland.

When the real Mrs Frain began another relationship and wanted to re-marry, she tried to contact him to seek a divorce, and even hired a firm of solicitors to locate him, although they also drew a blank.

Frustrated but determined not to give up, Mrs Frain then turned detective and eventually hunted her husband down while scouring the pages of Facebook.

And there he was, posing proudly on the social networking website in pictures with his new “bride” Ms Meredith – having tied the knot at the same register office in September 1999.

David Curtis, prosecuting, told Tameside Magistrates’ Court: “She made inquiries with the registry office and he had not told them that he was already married.”

Mr Curtis said that in interviews, Frain admitted that he had married in 1999.

“Due to the amount of time that had passed, Mr Frain assumed that he was no longer married to her,” he said.

“He did not inform the registry office and took no legal advice.”

The court heard Frain met his second “wife”, from Droylsden, in June 2007.

They formed a friendship after they exchanged messages over the internet, district judge Paul Richardson heard.

Mr Curtis added: “He made no mention that he was married.”

Police were contacted and Frain was later arrested.

In a statement written by Ms Meredith which was read out to the court, she described how the scandal had taken her unawares.

“Although I had been married before, I was under the impression that this was Brian’s first marriage,” she said.

“The wedding went well. I truly believed that I was his first wife. This has obviously affected me.”

The court was told that they are no longer together.

But Rachel Wilson, defending, said Frain claims his second wife knew he was married.

Judge Richardson ruled that a hearing will be held on August 7 to try to settle the point.

Ms Wilson said of Frain: “He fully complied with the police. Ten years later he meets the second wife.

“He believes that at that stage, his marriage no longer existed because of the fact that it was only for two months and it was 10 years ago. He accepts that he was ignorant.”

The judge told Frain: “It makes a difference whether or not you deceived this lady. Your statements are opposite and we are going to have a trial of the issue.”

Frain was bailed to appear at the same court on August 7.

His bail conditions included that he should reside at his address in Cleethorpes.

After the hearing, Ms Meredith spoke of her shock at being informed by police that her “husband” was suspected of bigamy.

Although she told officers the relationship had ended, 
the 34-year-old said she wanted to see Frain for an explanation.

She said: “I got a phone call around February this year from the police asking about Brian. I said I am not with him. They informed me there was a bigamy investigation – I was in shock. I wanted to see him, I wanted answers.”