Ex-wife takes divorce battle to Supreme Court

A mother who claims her software millionaire ex-husband cheated her out of her share of his fortune will fight a landmark divorce battle in the Supreme Court.

Alison Sharland accepted £10.35 million from ex-husband Charles Sharland two years ago, after their marriage of 17 years broke down.

The pay-out was agreed to with Ms Sharland believing the figure was half of his fortune. However, the Court of Appeal has heard that his stake in the AppSense firm was estimated at a much greater £150 million.

In the settlement of July 2012, Ms Sharland was handed £10.35 million in cash and property, and would also gain 30 per cent of proceeds from her ex-husband's shares in his company when it was floated on the stock market.

The row then ignited over how much the company was worth. It later emerged that the copany was worth £460 million, putting Mr Sharland's stake at £150 million.

Ms Sharland attempted to secure more money from her ex-husband, but despite the judge agreeing he had 'lied' and 'misled' the first hearing, her bid was rejected.

Now she has been given the all clear to challenge that rejection in the highest court in Britain.

Mr Sharland did not deny that he had misled his wife and the court, but maintained that the settlement reached was a fair one.

When it reaches the Supreme Court, the case will depend upon whether the millionaire's dishonesty rendered the original divorce settlement 'unjust'.

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