A VULNERABLE woman who married a sex offender behind bars has won her battle to stop York social workers intervening in their relationship.

In a landmark ruling, top judges have upheld the learning- disabled woman’s right to be allowed to live with the man.

They said that although it might be “extremely unwise” for her to cohabit with him, the law simply had no power to stop her.

The woman began seeing the man before he was convicted and jailed for a series of grave sex offences. Despite his sordid crimes, she stood by him and they tied the knot while he was in jail.

With his release imminent, City of York Council social workers went to court in a bid to protect the woman and top family judge Mr Justice Hedley ruled last year that it was “in her best interests” to undergo a “phased transition” before being allowed to resume cohabitation with him.

He also authorised social workers to split the couple if they spotted an “imminent and serious threat to the woman’s welfare”.

But she can now do what she likes after the Court of Appeal ruled that, as she was agreed to have the legal capacity to marry, she also had the right to decide for herself whether to live with her own husband.