I’M STILL SMILING

Ringo ex-wife loses court cash battle

Big spending Maureen, 40-year-old ex-wife of drummer Ringo Starr, now faces a massive £2000,000 legal bill.

But as she swept from the court, she said defiantly: "I’m still smiling."

She accused her former solicitor Charles Doughty of not getting enough cash out of millionaire Ringo when the couple divorced in 1975.

Maureen, who lives in a £400,000 house in West London, got a lump sum of £125,000 and annual payments of £23,000 rising to £70,000 today.

The judge, Mr. Justice Bush, said the lump sum would be worth more than £4000,000 at today’s prices.

But her continued extravagances, her spending sprees which she described as "fund spending brain storms" and her failure to allow for tax debts led her into trouble.

The judge said she brought no money into the marriage and did nothing to contribute to Ringo’s wealth.

But she did live a champagne lifestyle.

Everything she ever wanted she just had and it was charged to one of the Beatles’ companies," said the judge.

She had three children but a nanny took care of them.

"She was able to induge her extravagances to the full," said the judge.

Even though she denied it, he said he believed Mr Doughty who claimed she had told him she once bought a rack fill of clothes and threw them in the dutbin when she got home.

"She could spend and she enjoyed it - but she could not budget," said the judge.

He ruled that Mr. Doughty was not guilty of breach of duty or negligence and dismissed Maureen’s claim with costs.

Mr. Doughty, of top London solicitors Withers, would not comment after the hearing but was said to be "pleased."