A Derbyshire man who flew to Thailand and married a younger woman while still married to his wife in England has been given a suspended prison sentence for bigamy, after his first wife discovered the wedding invitations on Facebook.

David Curtis, 56, a contracts manager from South Normanton in Derbyshire, was sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court last week to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, pay £650 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.

The court heard that Curtis told his wife, Kirsty Curtis, 51, that he needed some "space" from their marriage before travelling to Thailand, where he married Kwanta Satipjan, believed to be 35. The couple had married in 2015 after six years together.

Invitations gave the wedding away

Kirsty Curtis discovered wedding invitations and an announcement about the ceremony on social media, after they were sent to members of the family. On the advice of her solicitor, she reported her husband to the police.

Officers arrested Curtis as he arrived at Heathrow Airport on 26 February 2026, on his return to England. Prosecutor Jade Salter told the court that he made full admissions about the wedding ceremony after his arrest.

Curtis, who had no previous convictions, initially pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court in May, before changing his plea to guilty. He admitted bigamy at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

Left home saying he was going to work

Kirsty Curtis said her husband had left their home in South Normanton in April 2025, telling her he was going to work. Instead, he travelled to Thailand and married Ms Satipjan.

Tim Gaubert, for the defence, said Curtis had sent invitations to close family members rather than arranging the marriage abroad in secret. The court heard that Curtis is now divorced from Mrs Curtis and lives with his new wife in Leeds.

Kirsty Curtis told the court that her husband had texted her from the airport to say he needed some "space" before boarding his flight to Thailand. She said he had left their home in South Normanton in April 2025, telling her he was going to work, and she only learned the truth when the wedding invitations appeared on social media.

Ms Satipjan has since moved from Thailand and now lives with Curtis in Leeds. The court heard that Curtis, who earns £3,900 a month, is now divorced from Mrs Curtis. The suspended sentence means he will not go to prison unless he commits another offence during the 18-month suspension period.

Bigamy, marrying while still legally married to someone else, is a criminal offence in England and Wales. A second marriage entered into while a first marriage is still in force has no legal standing.