Inside bigamist veteran's secret double life with wives in UK and Germany

06 September 2023 , 18:56

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Hayter appeared in court in a wheelchair (Image: Newsquest / SWNS)

An ex-soldier led a double life while being married to two women in different countries.

Jason Hayter had children with both his wives, jetting back and forth between his families in Germany and the UK – neither of whom knew about the other. Now the 48-year-old could be jailed after he admitted bigamy.

Magistrates heard he convinced the women his lengthy absences were due to training or mental health problems. But he was caught after one of his daughters messaged the mother of his other kids on Facebook.

Hayter met Tracey Larcombe in 2008 and they married two years later, living in Germany and having two children. However, in 2010, he started a relationship with Sara Hayter, in the UK. She had his child in 2014 before they married in 2016. He and Sara than had twins in 2018.

Hayter, of Kirby Cross near Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, appeared in court in a wheelchair. Prosecutor Sally Harris told Norwich magistrates the impact of his behaviour on his two families had been “very significant”. She added: “No effort was made to rectify the situation, even when a divorce was asked for.”

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Both of Hayter’s wives said he had gone missing for lengthy periods during their relationships. Mrs Larcombe said he was “always going backwards and forwards to the UK for training” while in Germany with the Army. She added: “I never thought anything was wrong.”

But after one disappearance, he sent her a text saying: “I don’t love you anymore, I’m gay.” Mrs Larcombe said: “He walked out on me and the children. He has never sent a birthday card or asked about the children. We have had nothing from him.”

Mrs Hayter said: “I don’t want anything more to do with him. He manipulated me.” Charles Judge, defending, said Hayter had been in the armed forces for 24 years, serving in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. Hayter will be sentenced next month. Bigamy carries a maximum of seven years’ in prison.

Dan Warburton