Millionaire who had four children with mistress while living double life labelled ‘treacherous’ by judge

‘It is hard to imagine a graver assault upon a marriage,’ says family court judge as he awards wife £2.2m

Artur Trapitsyn was accused of treating his wife with contempt at the Family Division of the High Court in London (AFP)

A “treacherous” Russian millionaire who had four children with his secret mistress has been ordered by a British judge to pay his wife £2.2m.

Artur Trapitsyn “cruelly” deceived Victoria Trapitsyna and treated her with “contempt” while living a double life for 13 years, the Family Division of the High Court in London was told.

Mr Justice Holman criticised the former soldier, who lives in Moscow, on Tuesday after hearing Ms Trapitsyna’s claim for money following the breakdown of the couple’s 25-year marriage.

The settlement he ordered was less than the £4m sought by Ms Trapitsyna, who lives in London and has dual Russian and British citizenship.

She said her husband was worth millions of pounds and had business interests in Russia, including a half share in companies that own a spa hotel near Barcelona.

Mr Trapitsyn was not present at the hearing and not represented by lawyers.

The judge heard how the pair had married in Russia, had two children, and spent a decade living in the country as a couple.

Ms Trapitsyna moved to London with her children 17 years ago and lived in rented accommodation owned by the Russian government, with Mr Trapitsyn remaining in Moscow but visiting England frequently.

He admitted to an affair in December 2016, when the family were on a Christmas skiing trip in Andorra.

“The husband told the wife that he wanted a divorce and informed her that he was living with another woman in Moscow and by her he had four children,” Mr Justice Holman said in his ruling.

“For 13 years, he had lived a double life completely unknown to his wife. Unsurprisingly, his wife decided to divorce him.

“Although this story is not unique, it is hard to imagine a graver assault upon a marriage, apart from abuse or criminal behaviour.”

The court heard that Ms Trapitsyna had filed for divorce in England and opened talks over money before her husband obtained a divorce decree in Russia “behind her back” and stopped negotiating in 2017.

She then started litigation in London, but Mr Trapitsyn failed to engage in proceedings, did not appear at hearings, and did not obey orders to pay alimony.

Mr Justice Holman said the millionaire had behaved in a “treacherous” fashion.

“His attitude is ... one of studied contempt to this court and these proceedings and, frankly, contempt for his former wife, with whom he was married for 25 years, and by whom he has two children,” the judge added.

Additional reporting by PA