A SOLDIER lied to the registrar who performed his wedding ceremony in Whalley in 2013.

Blackburn magistrates heard Scots Guardsman Anthony Steven Love claimed he had never been married.

The truth was that he had been and was legally divorced.

And the court was told there was no logical explanation for Love not disclosing his true history.

Love, 31, of Aldershot, pleaded guilty to knowingly making a false declaration to procure a marriage. He was fined £600 with £85 costs and £60 victim surcharge.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Love was in a relationship with a woman called Emma and they married in August 2013.

“She found out two weeks before the wedding that he had been married before,” said Mrs White. “The marriage broke down in 2015. She suspected he hadn’t been divorced and the police were alerted to the possibility of bigamy.”

Mrs White said the deputy registrar who officiated at the ceremony had made a statement outlining the procedure. She said both parties would have been asked several times if they had been married before.

“She attended at the wedding ceremony and when the defendant was asked once more the specific question about being married before he replied no,” said Mrs White.

Love produced papers to the police which showed his divorce had been completed.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had done two tours of duty in Afghanistan and produced a reference from his regimental sergeant major.

He said there was no detriment to Mrs Love who had been aware of his previous marriage.

“He was clearly divorced and why he didn’t answer the questions asked of him honestly he doesn’t know,” said Mr Prew. “There was no reason for him not to answer in the affirmative.”

Passing sentence District Judge James Clarke said the failure to disclose information undermined public records.

“The accuracy and integrity of public record keeping is very important,” he said.