A Bradford woman who won £200,000 on the bingo has been told to hand over a third of her assets to her ex-partner.

After a three-day bitter Court battle, Angela Thompson was told property and classic cars would have to be sold to pay off Anthony Scaife.

And the judge in the county court hearing also pledged to launch an inquiry into how Mrs Thompson was able to claim legal aid - just months after scoring a £209,000 win on the bingo.

Mr Scaife lodged the case against Mrs Thompson to claim money from businesses the couple set up before their relationship failed.

But Mrs Thompson claimed she was still owed money after mortgaging her home in Shelf to pay for the businesses.

Mr Scaife now says his legal bill runs to more than £20,000 and has applied for costs. Mrs Thompson's legal costs - funded by the taxpayer through legal aid - are thought to run into thousands of pounds.

Summing up at Huddersfield County Court yesterday, Judge Cockroft told how Mrs Thompson had provided money for a rented property, a wedding car-hire firm and carpet shop, while Mr Scaife provided some funds and business expertise.

But Mr Scaife had been regarded as a "leech upon the family" after the relationship fell apart, the judge said.

Describing Mrs Thompson as "no fool", he said: "The parties soon became embroiled in the most rancorous arguments that it's ever been my unhappy misfortune to attempt to resolve."

Mrs Thompson had pursued a vigorous campaign against Mr Scaife after her bingo win, including threats to kill, with a view to dissuading him of taking court action, he said.

But he added the greater financial contribution to the businesses had come from Mrs Thompson.

Two classic cars, a caravan and rented property will now be sold off, with Mrs Thompson receiving two thirds of the money. A Bedford van and insurance costs from a Ford Escort will remain her property.

Mr Scaife was also awarded insurance money from a Jaguar he claimed was a gift but which had been burnt out in an alleged arson attack.

Earlier in the hearing, Mr Scaife had denied he was after a cut of the £209,000 Mrs Thompson had won in January 1999.

His application for costs was deferred after Judge Cockroft said he would be launching a full inquiry into Mrs Thompson's award of legal aid.

Her bank account had dramatically emptied after the bingo winnings were credited to her account at the end of January 1999 and before her claim for legal aid in April, he said.

"At this stage I would urge the legal aid board to investigate very closely indeed," he said.

Mrs Thompson claims she used the money to repay debts to her brother.

Speaking after the case, Mr Scaife said the judgement had been very fair. "All I ever wanted was my money not her money. I never wanted any of her bingo money.

"Bingo's painful - win or lose you end up paying."

Two months ago, the Telegraph & Argus revealed how Mr Scaife's current partner Debbie Rymer was ordered by a Bradford County Court judge to repay more than £40,000 to David Longbottom, a milkman and former neighbour who had handed over £50,000 of his life savings after becoming infatuated with her.

Mrs Rymer is currently appealing against the decision and Mr Scaife may return to court to contest cash he claimed he invested in renovating Mrs Thompson's property in Shelf. The claim had been dropped for legal reasons.

Mrs Thompson refused to comment outside the court.

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