THE case of a woman who recently lost the latest round of a court battle to divorce her husband of nearly 40 years has been described as "extraordinary" by a family law expert.

Stephen Priest, partner and family law expert at Kerwoods Solicitors in Redditch, said the case showed reform was badly needed.

The Worcester News has previously reported on the case in which last year, Judge Robin Tolson refused to grant Tini Owens' divorce petition, despite being trapped in a "loveless and desperately unhappy" marriage to husband Hugh Owen.

Mrs Owens took the case to the Court of Appeal and three appeal judges – led by Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge in England and Wales – analysed the case but dismissed the appeal.

Mrs Owens, 66 and Mr Owens, 78, had married in 1978, and lived in Broadway.

Mr Priest said: "I find it quite extraordinary in this day and age that someone can be forced to stay married,” he commented.

“It surely has to be wrong that people can still be trapped in loveless marriages.”

“I think most people in the UK would have thought that no fault divorce was standard practice, but not if one party objects.

“This surely is an anachronism which needs to be addressed and addressed urgently.

“It is very harsh on Mrs Owens who is effectively left in limbo.

“Unfortunately, it leaves Mrs Owens having to wait until she has five years’ separation before she can issue new divorce proceedings which is one of the facts you can use to obtain a divorce.

"Perhaps it is now time for Parliament to relook at updating the law to deal with modern society."