THE son of a wealthy Burnley businessman has sued his ex-girlfriend for £3,000 after she walked out on him and broke his heart.

David Blackadder, who now works as a sales manager for his father Stephen in the family business - Kitchens Renault Dealership, Trafalgar Street - took former girlfriend Sarah Marshall to York County Court for the repayment of money he said she owed him.

When their three-year relationship ended and she walked out, he started legal proceedings to recoup the money and at York County Court, Judge Michael Grills ordered Miss Marshall, who was not present, to pay Mr Blackadder £1,000 plus interest - a total of £1757.15. A county court order had already been made in respect of the other £2,000.

Speaking after the case, Mr Blackadder, 23, of Barrowford, said he had planned to marry Miss Marshall and had offered her a £900 engagement ring shortly before they split up.

"I was completely in love with her and she said she was in love with me," he said. "I was very cut up at the time and it took me months to get over it I just kept wondering what I had done wrong." Mr Blackadder, who has since graduated in biochemistry, said he was not motivated by revenge. He said: "It's the principle of the matter. It may look to some people like I'm taking revenge, but I have no need for it. There's no bitterness as I now have what was mine." The couple met at the city's university where they were both chemistry students and they lived in a rented house until October last year.

He said he advanced her £3,000 from a student loan which he had taken out and she agreed verbally to pay the money back.

The court heard that Miss Marshall, 21, of York, borrowed the cash after finishing her studies.

Mr Blackadder told the judge: "I was in a position to access money through my father. She was working and I was a student, but my expectations at the time were that she would pay me back gradually."

Judge Michael Grills said he had received a letter from Miss Marshall indicating she would not be attending court because she would feel distressed if she attended.

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