A lawyer harassed her estranged husband and had him arrested after he began a relationship with a younger woman.

Susilla Mercer, 44, posted vitriolic messages on social media about Gerard Flynn’s South American girlfriend, calling her “flat-chested, scruffy and trampy”, adding: “Penthouse to s---house does not even cut it.”

Mercer made unfounded allegations of assault against her husband, which resulted in him being arrested and questioned by police, a court heard.

When he was released without charge, Mercer messaged him saying: “I am sorry I got you arrested but I did not want to spend £200 to £300 an hour on a watertight divorce.

“The copper then took it out of my hands and I spent the time with two barristers trying to get you out to make sure that the CPS did not take it further.”

She denied the harassment of 42-year-old Mr Flynn and the racially aggravated harassment of Shelina Kurz, who is in her 30s.