Two women who unwittingly married the same man teamed up to put him before the courts

Former Army Garrison chef Paul Swaby, 24, admitted a charge of bigamy after his two wives joined forces when their marriages turned sour.

Now he has been warned he faces jail for the offence.

Deceived - Donna Jones and Penny Swaby who worked together to bring ex-Army chef Paul Swaby to court Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

Following the hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Friday, Swaby's wives Donna Jones, 26, of Elmstead Market, and Penny Swaby, 22, of Colchester, spoke about what had happened.

Donna said: "He told me he'd been engaged to someone called Penny but she'd run off.

As it turned out Swaby was not only married to Penny, the couple have a three-year-old daughter Shar

Swaby, an ex-Army chef, met Penny in 1997, when she was working at the barracks as a food hygiene assistant. The pair married a year later.

Both of the women said Swaby had been charming and swept them off their feet at first, buying them lots of gifts.

In each case he moved in with the women and their parents before the weddings, but after the marriages both women noticed a change in him.

Donna said: "He disappeared for days and was angry.

Penny said: "After we were married for about two months he had an affair."

The pair got in touch after discovering each other's numbers on Swaby's mobile phone and have been helping each other through the difficult time.

The women agreed Swaby was a bit of a loner and Penny said: "He's a cheat and a liar."

Neither thought the case would put him off marrying for a third time.

The court heard Swaby, of Lincolnshire, married Donna Jones on June 15, 2001, while he was still married to Penelope Swaby.

Swaby had married Penelope Swaby on April 6, 1998.

Paul Tawn, representing Swaby, said his client had not been in trouble before, but told the court Swaby 'presented as a young 24-year-old.'

The bench accepted jurisdiction of the case and ordered pre-sentence reports.

Magistrates told Swaby a possible sentence could be as much as six months in prison.

The case was adjourned until May 14.

Following the hearing Swaby declined to comment on the case

Published Monday, April 14, 2003

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