'Vindictive glamping boss asks court to jail his ex in revenge for alleged affair'

Sandy Jones, 28, outside the High Court
Champion News

A glamping guru has been accused of a “vindictive” attempt to have his ex-girlfriend jailed in revenge for her alleged affair with a neighbour.

Ben Carden, 38, founded the Woodland Champions Club — helping to create boutique campsites — with partner Sandy Jones, but their six-year relationship ended amid claims that she had been unfaithful.

He is now seeking a High Court order for Ms Jones, 28, to be sent to prison, arguing she has flouted court orders over the break-up of their joint business. However, Mr Carden has been accused of abusing the court process in a “vendetta” against his former lover.

The pair, who shared a home in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, set up the business in 2017 to help landowners create camp sites in woodland settings.

Mr Carden says he was left heartbroken when he discovered Ms Jones had “entered a sexual relationship” with a neighbour. Ms Jones, the mother of his three children, denies the cheating claim. Mr Carden argues she should be committed to prison for contempt of court for allegedly failing to hand over all the information required for him to run the business’s online accounts.

But Ms Jones’s barrister, Andrew Locke, told the court: “These proceedings are clearly brought by a vindictive wronged lover who is abusing the court’s procedure for committal to further his own desire for revenge.

Ben Carden and Sandy Jones

“These proceedings are simply another front in the ongoing battle between Ben Carden and Sandy Jones as part of the fallout of the breakdown of their relationship.”

He argued that Mr Carden has an “ulterior intent” for the court proceedings, seeking to ultimately obtain possession of the family home, and questioned whether other committee members of the Woodland Champions Club supported the legal fight.

“These proceedings may result in a money judgment against them individually and ensuing enforcement proceedings as a result of Ben Carden pursuing a personal vendetta against Sandy Jones”, he said.

Challenging her claim to have stuck to court orders, Mr Carden told the hearing: “She could have complied and this could have all gone away. She has built the costs up for me and that is just another form of harassment.”

He also says he was accused by Ms Jones of “stealing a dog” in the bitter breakdown of their relationship.

Judge Brian Rawlings adjourned the case for Mr Carden to obtain proof that Woodland Champion Club committee members backed the court proceedings, and to set out in writing how he claims Ms Jones is in contempt.

The case is due to return to court at a later date which has not yet been set.

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