The ex-husband of a woman he divorced 15 years ago must support her for life, according to the Court of Appeal.

It was judged Marie Mills, 51, was “unable to meet her basic needs” and her ex Graham Mills should raise her monthly payment from £1,100 to £1,441.

Mr Mills felt he should not have to “pick up the tab” for Mrs Mills since they divorced more than a decade ago. She was also awarded £230,000 when they officially split up.

The two separated in 2001, divorced in 2002 and have a grown up son together.

Mr Mills, a surveyor who now lives in Guildford, had agreed to give Mrs Mills, a former Notting Hill estate agent nearly all of their liquidated capital in 2002, while keeping the business.

The Appeal Court heard Mrs Mills, who works two days a week as a beauty therapist, had made some “unwise” property investments.

She moved from a house in Weybridge to a flat in Wimbledon, then to a luxury Battersea mansion block.

Mrs Mills was forced to sell the apartment in Battersea as she had no capital left and now rents in Weybridge.

Her lawyer, Frank Feehan, told the court she had been left with a small child at the time of the divorce without enough money to buy a house she thought was “good enough”.

Mr Mills must make the monthly payment “until a further order of the court”.