UK NEWS

TV LAWYER ARRESTED FOR POISON PLOT 'LIES'

EXPERT: Lloyd Platt who comments on high-profile cases

Wednesday August 20,2008

By Padraic Flanagan

A television divorce lawyer has been arrested for allegedly lying about a plot by her husband to poison her.

Vanessa Lloyd Platt, who appears on TV shows including Richard and Judy and GMTV, is said to have told officers that her then husband Daniel had tried to spike her food.

Responding to her allegations last year, police visited the couple’s £1.5million home in Barnet, north London.

No charges were ever brought against financier Mr Lloyd Platt, 64.

But twice-divorced Vanessa, 53, has now been arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. She was bailed until next month.

A police source said: “She alleges Daniel made comments about being a very good chemist who was able to poison her without anyone finding out.

“But when we looked at her story we had concerns.” She is said to have claimed that she had proof.

Her lawyer said: “She entirely refutes the allegations.”

Mrs Lloyd Platt made a name for herself as an expert commentator on the marital disputes of celebrities such as Sir Paul McCartney and Roman Abramovich.

But she suffered a similar fate when she split from husband Daniel three months ago after 17 years of marriage.

A year after their wedding, she founded Lloyd Platt & Company, which has become one of the UK’s leading family and divorce law firms.

The company has acted for TV stars such as Anne Diamond and Les Dennis, as well as a host of pop singers, models and footballers. Mrs Lloyd Platt studied law at University College London after switching from a philosophy course.

In 2001 she published her book, Secrets of Relationship Success, which became a surprise bestseller.

The book caused a furore by blaming the rocketing number of marriage break-ups in Britain on women behaving badly.

Mrs Lloyd Platt labelled this type of wife as a “Dragon Woman” and said: “Over the past few years women have become aggressive and demanding.

“At home they argue with their husbands and they complain about things which really don’t matter.

“They are very critical of everything that goes on around them – especially their men.

“Unless women change their behaviour they’re going to end up very lonely and bitter.”

Mrs Lloyd Platt is also a regular columnist.

She has two children, forensic specialist Michael, 26, and Gary, 24, who is training to become a lawyer.