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David Curtis, a 56-year-old contracts manager, has been sentenced for bigamy after telling his wife he was going to work and then flying to Thailand to marry a younger woman. The deception unravelled only because Curtis sent wedding invitations to family members on Facebook, alerting his first wife, Kirsty Curtis, 51, who reported him to police on the advice of her solicitor. Curtis, who now lives in Leeds, admitted bigamy at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was handed a six-month jail term suspended for 18 months.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands the investigation began after Ms Curtis discovered invitations to the wedding of Curtis and Kwanta Satipjan, believed to be 35, posted on the social media platform. The court heard that Curtis had sent a text message to Ms Curtis telling her he needed "space" before boarding a plane to the Far East. She later found he had sent invitations to relatives for the ceremony, a move that ultimately triggered the police inquiry.
The couple, who each had two children from previous relationships when they met, had been together for six years when they married in front of friends and family in 2015. They lived in a smart detached home in South Normanton, Derbyshire. Ms Curtis, who was made redundant from her job as an after-sales team leader after 20 years in February, told how her husband "left for work one day and never came home." She said that before he disappeared in April 2025 they had a family meal. "He told me he loved me," she said. "We didn't have a row or an argument or anything."
Ms Curtis then received a text message stating he needed a break from the marriage, after which he blocked her on all communication channels. She subsequently noticed his passport was missing. She said he later claimed to be having a mental breakdown and needed space, and would finish a round-the-world trip before returning home. Ms Curtis told him to "get on a flight" and filed for divorce when he did not. During this time she did not hear from him and had to undergo a serious operation which he knew about. She later found he was in Thailand and was told about a wedding announcement posted online by Ms Satipjan giving details of their marriage and "honeymoon in England, David's hometown."
It is understood that Mr Curtis met Ms Satipjan in a bar in Thailand. He now lives with her in a ground-floor flat in Leeds after she moved from Thailand following the wedding, leaving behind her two young children.
Jade Salter, prosecuting at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, said: "He was arrested on his return to England on February 26, 2026, at Heathrow Airport and, to his credit, he made full admissions about the wedding ceremony." In a victim impact statement, Ms Curtis told how she was going through surgery at the time and was later made redundant. She said she has been left feeling vulnerable and frightened, calling her now ex-husband's actions "impulsive." She said she was devastated to find out through social media he was engaged and then there was a wedding ceremony involving another woman.
Curtis appeared over a videolink with his solicitor, Tim Gaubert, for the hearing on Tuesday, when he admitted to bigamy. He has no previous convictions. Mr Gaubert said: "He sent invites out to his close family asking them if they wanted to come to the ceremony. It is not a case where he sneaked out [of the country] and got married. He put it in the public sphere." Mr Gaubert added that Curtis is now divorced from the complainant, has a good job taking home £3,900 per month, and has sought to build bridges with his extended family, including his brothers, mother, children and grandchildren.
As part of the suspended sentence, the judge ordered Curtis to carry out 100 hours' unpaid work. He was also told to pay £650 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
Recalling the moment she saw the wedding invite, Ms Curtis told journalists: "I just felt sick. It was just such a betrayal, it felt like 16 years counted for nothing and I was just chucked away like that." She added: "I am still not sure why he did it, I had already filed for divorce so I don't see why they couldn't have waited. He told people they had to get married because they weren't allowed to hold hands in her village. I think he just wanted to keep me there in case it didn't work out." She said: "I don't want people to think I am some scorned, angry woman. It has been hard and difficult but I am doing OK now and she is welcome to him."
Ms Curtis reported him to police on the advice of her solicitor. She said officers initially did not take her seriously but she was then told he was to be arrested. Officers boarded his plane as he landed at Heathrow in February. He initially pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court in May before changing his plea to guilty. Ms Curtis said: "He has never shown any remorse. He's destroyed so many relationships and hurt so many people but he doesn't care."
Curtis declined to open his door to reporters at his home, where neighbours said the couple "keep themselves to themselves." One said: "They've been there three or four months, tops. When I saw her and then saw him, it raised my eyebrows, because he seems much older than her. That's what sort of made it quite noticeable. She seemed much younger and quite attractive and he must be well into his fifties."
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