A WOMAN has been given four months jail for trying to divorce her husband by falsifying documents.

Preston Crown court was told that the husband of Tahera Patel had never consented to the divorce.

Patel, 28, of Argo Street, Bolton had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to perverting the course of public justice.

Rodney Halligan, prosecuting, told the court Patel had married out of the country in December, 1996.

Her husband applied to permanently settle in the UK and came over the following year, living with his bride at her parents' address in Nebo Street, Bolton.

However, there were problems. He was thrown out and lived elsewhere. Reconciliation attempts failed.

Patel petitoned for divorce at Blackburn County Court in July, 1999, and gave an address of London Road, Blackburn, not Nebo Street.

She also gave the respondent's address as Dartford Close, Blackburn and it was said they had lived apart for at least two years.

It was also stated that the husband consented to the divorce, which was incorrect. The papers were served to Dartford Close, which had never been his address.

The papers also purported to be signed by him, but his signature was forged.

The decree absolute was granted in November, 1999. Patel went on to marry again at Bolton Register Office.

Mark Fireman, defending, said Patel was of previous good character.