A former sales manager has admitted he was 'gullible' after being cleared in court of harassing his psychic ex-lover after they rekindled their romance.
Jim Gotobed, from Romford, fell for Tracie Long and ended up lavishing £12,000 on her during a ten month affair - ending his 25 year marraige.
But the 50-year-old told Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday he had had felt "hypnotised" after his sessions with Ms Long, each of which he said he came out of "more deeply in love with her."
Mr Gotobed, of Laurel Crescent, Rush Green, Romford, was cleared of harassment.
Ms Long had accused him of repeatedly texting her, writing to her parents, contacting a local newspaper, reporting her to the Spiritualist Workers Association and threatening to kill her.
But the magistrates said they believed Mr Gotobed's version of events rather than the claims of Ms Long, 48, of Queen Street, Chelmsford.
Chairman Ian Fuller said she had been "evasive" in her testimony whereas the magistrates considered Mr Gotobed had been "honest, straightforward and convincing".
Mr Gotobed said: "I realise now she was after my money and am over her because of what she has done," he said.
He had known the psychic 30 years earlier and their friendship was re-kindled through Facebook.
"She started telling me things along the lines she instigated the meeting. It was nothing to do with me contacting her.
"She had had it in her mind all the time and it was spiritual," he said.
He said that she began doing Tarot readings for him, though she denied that in court, and that on the first reading she spoke of a "dark force about him."
He told the court that she said it related to his marriage and that he should "get a quick divorce."
In a police interview read out during the trial he said he was given his first reading on February 3 after which she said they would be married before Christmas.
The court heard, he said she had told him that the Tarot card readings "showed a need for money."
As a result he said he sold his prized racing car, other cars, his guns and guitar collections. He said he did this because she said he should "unburden himself".
He also arranged for his wages to be paid into her account and then handed in his notice at the Barking insulation firm after she told him he wasn't earning enough.
Asked if his decisions were of his own free will, Mr Gotobed told magistrates: "There were things I did which people know I would never have done. I would never have got divorced. I got divorced."
However, he said he was distraught when Ms Long inexplicably ended their relationship.
She had told the court : "He rang and said I'm going to shoot you. I'm going to ruin your life" but in his evidence he said he would "never have harmed her."
Mr Gotobed said he complained about Ms Long to the spiritualist association, based in Bridgend, Wales. However, the society's investigation concluded Ms Long had not broken its ethical code or breached consumer protection regulations and reinstated her membership.
In her evidence, Ms Long, who also does readings by email and phone, claimed Mr Gotobed had thrown her out on October 28 last year.
She said she then made it clear she was no longer interested and told him to stop contacting her but he carried on trying to win her back.
She described his love as "obsessed".
She said she felt anxious as he seemed erratic. She was embarrassed he had complained to the spiritualist association and the local paper had run an article about her.
She said she had only given him a non-professional " mini reading" and denied telling him during a reading that they would be married by Christmas.
Outside court after the hearing, Mr Gotobed said: "My wife has forgiven me because there was more behind it than running off with someone.
She always said she put something in your drink because you changed overnight, that it was not my fault."
He revealed that he and his ex-wife, Josie, were now back living together at the Romford address, which he had taken off the market, and that they were planning to remarry.
That would definitely be happening now he had been cleared of harassment, he said.
He added: "I realise she's worth a thousand Tracies. We will be married."
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