Don't use dyslexia as an excuse, judge tells 'bully' businessman in divorce case as he says 'even Albert Einstein had dyslexia'

A businessman embroiled in a bitter divorce case with his estranged wife has been criticised by a judge for using his dyslexia as an excuse, telling him "even Einstein had dyslexia".

Mr Justice Moor said the man had attempted to "bully the court" at times and had fallen back on his Asperger's and dyslexia when the going got tough.

He made his criticisms in a ruling on a private trial at the Family Division of the High Court in Cardiff in October.

The couple, both 59, who the judge ruled could not be identified, shared a home in Cardiff and have been married for nearly 30 years.

The woman had discovered her husband was having an affair with his personal assistant more than 15 years ago, the judge said, but had not filed for divorce until 2015.

He criticised the couple's behaviour, saying they had run up "horrific" legal bills of more than £1 million between them, and told of a "truly terrible level of acrimony".

Mr Justice Moor said the "basic premise" of the woman's evidence was that "she knew nothing", but said he could not accept that "total denial".

While the husband, he said, was an "unattractive witness".

"At times, he appeared to me to be attempting to bully the court by his aggressive approach.

"At others, when the going got tough, he tried to fall back on his dyslexia and Asperger's."

The judge added: "It was quite clear to me that he is a very intelligent and clever man.

"I, of course, accept his dyslexia but Albert Einstein was dyslexic.

Mr Justice Moor said he had grappled with complicated family financial arrangements, and made a number of detailed decisions about the division of money.

He said the couple’s marital home should be sold and the profits - expected to be about £1 million - handed to the woman.