A FORMER North Yorkshire man has denied trying to hide £150,000 during court proceedings over his first wife's maintenance.

Graham Shipley, 57, claimed in the witness box at York Crown Court that the money was a loan to himself and his second wife, Jennifer, and that therefore he did not have to tell Lincoln County Court about it.

He did not include it when he signed two affidavits about his assets when the court was deciding how much maintenance he should pay his first wife, Susan, following their divorce in 1987.

Businessman Shipley, formerly of Ampleforth and now living in County Monaghan, Eire, denies two charges of perjury by concealing details of his finances in connection with his divorce from his first wife.

His second wife, Jennifer, 44, gave North Yorkshire Police details of his financial dealings when their marriage was breaking up in 1999.

Shipley alleged that, about the time of his wedding to Jennifer in 1988, his employer, Frank Cosgrove, sent them £150,000 as a long-term interest-free loan repayable on demand - without him asking for it.

He said that he did not have to tell the county court about it in 1989 and 1992 because it was neither an asset, nor a debt due for payment at the time.

The businessman alleged that he was not surprised that Mr Cosgrove demanded full repayment of the loan when his second marriage split up.

The prosecution alleges the money was a gift given when Mr Cosgrove sold a turkey business in Eire. Shipley had been a director of the business.

Shipley claimed that Jennifer Shipley had moved the money between bank accounts without his knowledge.

The trial continues.

Updated: 11:35 Friday, January 17, 2003