A 66-year-old great-granddad has spent his £100,000 life savings and racked up £50,000 worth of debt trying to bring his 30-year-old wife from Cameroon into the United Kingdom according to a report by British tabloid The Sun.
Retired logistics manager Paul Catchpole met Angele in 2007 during a work stint in Cameroon and began an affair with her. When he went back to the UK he decided to divorce his wife of 43 years. Leaving behind his heartbroken wife and two grown up kids, Paul went back to Cameroon to marry his new love.
The two lovebirds now have two children together — John Paul, now two, and Blessing, six months — but the happy ending they wanted has not come with British authorities refusing his new wife permanent residency in the UK.
Paul has so far spent his £100,000 life savings and racked up £50,000 worth of debt. According to The Sun report “the money has gone on air tickets, hotel and hospital fees, renting property, utilities, food, car and running costs, schooling, (kids start at two in Cameroon), property building costs and fees.
He has also forked out £40,000 for Angele to renovate properties in Cameroon after she said she would like to do it as a job. But speaking to The Sun newspaper, Paul insists its all worth it.
“I gave up my wife and lost my family, my home and my life savings for Angele. I’ve taken out bank loans and numerous credit cards to pay for her and the kids to live in Cameroon while I try to get her over here — but it is totally worth it.
“I’ve never been happier and the only thing stopping us from being truly happy is the distance. I don’t care how much it costs I won’t stop until Angele and the kids are here with me.”
“I didn’t go looking for love, it just happened. I couldn’t believe it when Angele showed me she was interested in me. I am 36 years older than her so never thought she would be attracted to me. At first we just chatted innocently but, after a few weeks, we started going for drinks on dates.
“Angele knew I was married but we were just completely caught up in the moment.”
Below is a breakdown of what Paul has spent
Car for Angele – £12,000
Her monthly rent for four years – £11,000
Utilities – £10,000
Food, clothing, prams, nappies – £20,000
Air tickets – £13,000
Hotels – £20,000
Hospitals in Paris and Cameroon – £6,000
Visa applications – £8,000
Property building costs – £40,000
Schooling and living costs – £11,000
TOTAL – £151,000
