B.C. court turns unfaithful U.K. man's 'mistake' into 'nightmare'
CBC
The last time E.S. spoke with G.W., he told her never to contact him again.
E.S. was pregnant with a child she claimed was G.W.'s, the fruit of a fling between the B.C. woman and the U.K. man. According to court documents, which only refer to the pair by their initials, he was initially supportive — but that soon changed.
"I understand that this is difficult for you but please don't do this. It will ruin my life. Ruin my relationship with the woman I love," G.W. wrote via Facebook messenger.
"I don't doubt you will love this child and I'm glad you will have support with your choice. However this is not my child, with due respect I barely know you, it was a complete mistake and this is frankly my worst nightmare."
That was April 2018.
Six years later, G.W.'s "worst nightmare" appears poised to come true after E.S. convinced a B.C. judge to give her an order she can present to a U.K. court demanding G.W. pay her more than $100,000 worth of retroactive child support.
The decision was issued at the beginning of March, but only recently posted to the Provincial Court's website.
Judge Nicholas Preovolos gave E.S. a provisional order under the terms of legislation known as the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act — which gives B.C. residents the right to apply for support from residents of other jurisdictions.
The United Kingdom is one of a number of countries that have reciprocal agreements with British Columbia, meaning that E.S. will be able to go before a judge in the U.K. in a bid to get Preovolos's order confirmed in that jurisdiction.
According to the heavily redacted ruling, E.S. and G.W. had a "brief intimate" relationship in an undisclosed country in 2018 while she was travelling.
E.S. learned she was pregnant on her return to Canada.
She testified that "she did not have sexual relations with anyone else in the 30 days prior to her brief relationship with G.W.," the judgment says.
"She is certain he is the father of the child."
According to the decision, E.S. and G.W. haven't communicated since April 2018.
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