Convicted bigamist caught when wife finds new wedding photos with another woman
The estranged wife of an electrician has described her shock at stumbling across his wedding photos – because he was still legally married to her.
Three times married Mark Rowlands, 47, married Kerry Adams at the Holiday Inn in June 2021, despite still being married to his second wife, Hayley Brown. Hayley reported the marriage to police and Rowlands pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court on the day of trial and was fined £456 with £346 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.
Mum of three Hayley, 36, has now spoken for the first time, saying: “I reported Mark because what he did was wrong. It is not a nice way to treat people. In court, he said he’d instructed a firm of solicitors about our divorce, but I knew nothing about that. I think that is just another one of his lies. He can’t help himself. Hopefully, now he has been publicly shamed, he will learn his lesson.”
Mark married Kerry Adams at the Holiday Inn in June 2021 (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Mum of three Hayley, 36, has now spoken for the first time after reporting Mark to the policeHayley and Mark met in 2010 in Southport, after he had dated one of her pals. Hayley, from Southport, Merseyside, says: “Mark was a real charmer, he had the gift of the gab. It was a whirlwind romance and we moved in together after about a month.”
She fell pregnant with the couple’s first child early in 2012 and they were married soon after, in a fancy hotel wedding. Hayley says: “I had a big white dress and all the trimmings and it was a great day. I was head over heels in love.”
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But after she fell pregnant with their second child, eight and a half years ago, she suspected he was cheating. Hayley says: “By now, I was realising Mark was not always truthful with me. I decided I couldn’t take it any more.”
Their son was born soon after, but Mark did not come to the birth and met him only once, briefly. He lost contact with Hayley and their children, save for maintenance payments. Hayley says: “I struggled financially after Mark left. I had a toddler and a new baby and a lot of debts. I had to move house and start again. I did ask him for a divorce, but at that time, I couldn’t afford it.
Hayley said she was 'head over heels' in love with Mark“I heard nothing more. There was no solicitor letter, as he said in court. That just wasn’t true. I received nothing.” But in February 2020, Hayley’s friend forwarded her a social media post from the Holiday Inn hotel – containing a photo of Mark’s wedding.
She says: “My jaw hit the floor. He was still married to me! I couldn’t believe it. It felt funny seeing him marry someone else, but I was over him by now. Even so, I knew this was wrong and I had to report him. The photos were on the hotel’s page, not Mark’s page, which showed he was probably trying to keep it quiet. I felt very torn about it, but it was illegal and so I went to the police.
“I was at first told I would need to give evidence, but Mark pleaded guilty just before the trial began, so I was able to go home. The judge told him to get a divorce, so at least now I will get what I want. I feel like Mark has got away with telling lies for far too long. Now he might think twice.”
Rowlands appeared before magistrates in June this year and was fined after pleading guilty to bigamy.
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