A bigamist who lived part time with each of his two wives was today sentenced to a 200 hour community punishment order.
Richard Parnell, 60, of Lancaster Way, Braintree, was spared a prison sentence by Colchester magistrates, who said they recognised he had looked after both of his families to the best of his ability
He admitted marrying Jacqueline in November 1996, despite the fact he had been married to his first wife Linda for 34 years.
He has four children by his first wife and three by Jacqueline.
The court heard Parnell had married Jacqueline at a tragic time when their son had been charged with murder.
James Baird Murray, mitigating, at Colchester Magistrates' Court, said Parnell was not "some gay Lothario who has broken the hearts of two women and run away from his responsibilities."
He said Parnell was an intelligent and perceptive man and described it as a wholly exceptional case.
In a statement read to the court Jacqueline, who has dyspraxia, said Parnell told her they could not get married but she booked a wedding at Braintree Register Office.
She said Parnell went through with the wedding: "To save my face and stop me looking like a complete idiot."
She added: "He now stands to lose everything due to my impatience." She also said Parnell was a lovely man who worked long hours to support both his families.
The Bench told Parnell they were not sending him to prison.
Following the case, Parnell and his family declined to comment
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