A £3.5 million claim against his employers has been filed by a newly-wed who says his marriage was ruined because an injury to his head at work caused his sex drive to spiral out of control.
The Times reports that Stephen Tame, 29, from East Bergholt, Suffolk, fell from a gantry in January 2002 while working in a bicycle warehouse. Although he made a full physical recovery after two years of specialist treatment, he claims that the accident led to severe sexual disinhibition, which is destroying his marriage of eight months.
His wife, Sarah, 30, says she has had to spend nights away from him ‘to get some respite’, and was shocked to find he had been unfaithful to her with a 57-year-old woman. He has also resorted to using pornography and visiting a prostitute.
Mr Tame’s lawyers say his behaviour has become rude and physically aggressive and that Mrs Tame has moved out of the marital home on several occasions. She is currently living with her parents.
The action against his former employers, Professional Cycling Marketing, is being carried out through his wife. In September last year judgment was entered in Mr Tame’s favour on the basis of 100 per cent liability.
The hearing, which is scheduled to last for four days, is to decide compensation has to be decided but Mr Tame’s lawyers are basing their claim on the likelihood of the marriage ending within a year and for loss of earnings as they say he is unlikely to be able to work again.
But defence lawyers claim he is likely to be able to work for up to 16 hours a week and that the marriage may survive.