A BIGAMIST who led a double life with his secret wife and children for more than 20 years has been jailed.

Neil Rattue married his first wife, Susan, in Great Wishford Church in 1983.

But after telling her they must sell their family home in Salisbury to pay off his debts, Rattue moved to York for work and met another woman, Rebecca. He married her in 1998, using a forged divorce certificate, and the couple now have two teenage sons.

Prosecuting at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday, Philip Warren said Susan only found out about her husband’s secret family in October, when Rebecca’s sister sent her a letter.

Mr Warren said Susan had believed the couple were still married, although they had not seen each other for 17 years, they would regularly speak on the phone.

The court heard that she has had to live with her elderly parents while trying to pay off £45,000 of Rattue’s debt.

In a victim impact statement, Susan said Rattue was “manipulative, deceitful and devious” and that he had led her on by not divorcing her.

“This whole thing has been a prison sentence, since 2001 when he left, and he has stolen my life from me.”

Rattue admitted one charge of bigamy at Salisbury magistrates’ court on April 6.

Defending, Nicholas Cotter said Rattue, aged 60, was of previous good character.

But he said his client was “a gentleman who had caused profound harm to two ladies” and that he “acted in a cowardly fashion.”

“He should have taken responsibility when he was in his late twenties,” Mr Cotter said.

But he said Rattue had admitted the crime at the earliest opportunity and shown remorse.

And Mr Cotter said if Rattue was jailed, Rebecca would struggle to cope financially, and to look after their two sons, one of whom requires constant ongoing care.

Judge Richard Parkes QC told Rattue: “You have been a cowardly and deceitful man over the period of decades.

“You have cheated Susan by keeping her married to you.

“And, of course, you have betrayed Rebecca, whose life with you has been founded on a lie.”

He jailed Rattue for eight months. He did not make a compensation order to Susan as “it’s impossible for the court to quantify the amount that should be ordered” but said the money she had paid for Rattue’s debts could be pursued in civil court.