A HUSBAND bugged his wife's telephone call to her new partner, a court heard.

The jury at York Crown Court heard a taped conversation between retired bank manager John Sutton, 69, and Jennifer Shipley, 44, who was then married to businessman Graham Shipley, 57.

Mrs Shipley claimed from the witness box that she had seen her husband setting up recording equipment in their garage, and on the tape she allegedly wonders if he is taping the call.

Mr Sutton admitted in the witness box that his three-month relationship with Mrs Shipley contributed to the breakdown of her marriage when all three were living in Ampleforth in 1999.

He also alleged that, two years later, Graham Shipley sent a message to him that he was waiting in Sproxton, near Helmsley, for him.

When the bank manager drove there, the businessman hit him in the mouth, injuring his nose and face bones. The court has heard that both are ex-special constables and that Mr Sutton is a freemason.

The lovers, who now live together in Strensall, were giving evidence against Graham Shipley, now of Mullinclry, Clones, County Monaghan, Eire.

He denies two charges of perjuring himself by concealing details of his finances in connection with his divorce of his first wife, Susan Shipley, in 1987.

The jury has heard allegations that in 1992, he claimed he could not afford to pay £100 maintenance and child maintenance to her, and that he had no assets, when in reality he had £233,000 in a bank account and a bungalow worth more than £200,000.

He is also alleged to have concealed a £150,000 golden handshake payment by putting it in a bank account in the maiden name of Jennifer Shipley and her two sisters' names.

Jennifer Shipley and Mr Sutton told York Crown Court they had an adulterous three-month affair which ended in July, 1999, when she decided she would try and patch up her marriage.

But the attempt failed. The defence claims the phone call was made in August, 2002.

Mr Sutton denied defence suggestions that the couple had thought of running away together when his wife, Patricia, learned of the affair on July 11, 1999.

He alleged that he and Jennifer Shipley were "great friends" for the next three years until they set up home together in July, 2002.

The trial continues.

Updated: 11:45 Thursday, January 16, 2003