A fashion consultant, whose millionaire ex-husband was accused of ‘deplorable’ behaviour in their £6.9million divorce battle, was found hanged at her home three days before Christmas, an inquest heard today.
Property mogul Nicholas Ratcliffe, now 64, used CCTV cameras to spy on his ex-wife Tracey in a dispute branded ‘among the most acrimonious’ a court had ever seen.
In a ‘creepy’ bid to force her out of their £1.3million Cheshire marital home, he had also locked internal doors to restrict her movements, and left Post-it notes on kitchen items saying ‘clean me’, it heard.
But in 2021 Appeal Court judges backed Mr Ratcliffe’s bid to overturn his ex-wife’s £3.45million pay-out after accepting his wealth had been ‘overstated’.
Tragically, the mother-of-two was found dead over Christmas, with the local coroner launching an investigation.
Tracey Ratcliffe (pictured), 53, was tragically found dead over Christmas
Tracey’s death came after her ex-husband tried to force her out of their £1.3million Cheshire marital home
Property mogul Nicholas Ratcliffe (pictured), now 64, used CCTV cameras to spy on Tracey in a dispute branded ‘among the most acrimonious’ a court had ever seen
Today a brief hearing at Manchester South coroner’s court in Stockport heard Ms Ratcliffe was found hanged at her home on December 22 last year aged 53.
There were no suspicious circumstances, assistant coroner Andrew Bridgman told the inquest opening, which was not attended by any family or friends.
The location of her death was given as a semi-detached house in Sale, Greater Manchester, which property records show she bought without a mortgage last May for £455,000.
Adjourning the hearing to a full inquest scheduled for June, Mr Bridgman said Ms Ratcliffe’s GP records and any interactions with mental health services would need to be disclosed.
Friends spoke of their devastation following her premature death.
Describing her as ‘an absolute diamond of a friend’, they recalled her as ‘a wonderful person’ who was ‘always dressed to the nines’.
She was living with her parents and studying for a business degree at Liverpool University when she met her future husband in 1992, marrying him two years later.
Ten years her senior, he was a chartered surveyor who went on to earn most of his money as a consultant finding potential sites for Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
Ms Ratcliffe did not pursue a career after having the first of their two sons, a court hearing over her divorce pay-out was told.
Instead she worked as part of Mr Ratcliffe’s property business which also now employs both their sons.
Tracey’s £1.3million Cheshire home where Ratcliffe left Post-it notes on kitchen items saying ‘clean me’ in a bid to force her out
Mr Ratcliffe (pictured) was finally ordered to leave the family home by a judge in 2018 and moved into rented accommodation
Tragically, the mother-of-two (pictured) was found dead over Christmas
The couple separated in 2016 but continued to live under the same roof at their luxury home in affluent Bowdon, near Altrincham.
However according to Ms Ratcliffe’s barrister, Anne Hussey QC, he embarked on a ‘creepy’ bid to force her out.
‘Despite being aware of her ‘fragile mental health’, the husband showed a ‘deplorable level of control’ and embarked on a campaign ‘designed to drive the wife from the family home’,’ she said.
‘The husband’s behaviour – found to include installing and using CCTV to monitor the wife in the former matrimonial home and locking internal doors – was described in the first judgment as ‘creepy’.’
In 2018, Mr Ratcliffe was finally ordered to leave the family home by a judge and moved into rented accommodation.
Two years later Judge Bernard Wallwork ordered an equal split of a family fortune he assessed as worth about £6.9million.
The sum factored in profits from a multi-million pound luxury development on prime rural land he partly owned near Knutsford.
Ruling on the case, he said: ‘This case ranks among the most acrimonious financial remedy cases I have ever dealt with.
‘The bitterness and rancour has been considerable and has permeated the proceedings.’
He slammed Mr Ratcliffe’s attitude towards his wife, particularly given he knew she had been suffering with mental health problems.
‘I think his behaviour has been designed to drive the wife from the family home – and I am stressing the words ‘her home’,’ he said.
‘It appears to me that knowing of the wife’s fragile mental health these actions were oppressive.’
Friends described Tracy (pictured) as ‘an absolute diamond of a friend’, recalling her as ‘a wonderful person’ who was ‘always dressed to the nines’
Tracey was living with her parents and studying for a business degree at Liverpool University when she met her future husband in 1992, marrying him two years later
As well as getting the £1.3million home and valuable shares, he ordered that Ms Ratcliffe be paid £1.2million in cash instalments.
She would be left with as much liquid cash as possible due to the ‘deviousness’ of Mr Ratcliffe during the divorce proceedings, said the judge.
But Mr Ratcliffe appealed, in a move the ex-wife’s lawyers described as another example of his ‘controlling’ behaviour.
The following year Appeal Court judges overturned the award after accepting his wealth had been ‘overstated’ through ‘double-counting’ and the original decision was ‘flawed’.
They ordered that the case be heard and decided again.
It is not known whether a final settlement had been agreed prior to Ms Ratcliffe’s death.
She was a well-known figure selling vintage clothes at Altrincham Market, and traders paid a moving tribute ahead of her funeral in January.
‘Your passing has left us with heavy hearts,’ they wrote.
Praising her ‘bubbly personality, infectious laughter, and impeccable sense of style’, they added: ‘She brought happiness and humour into our lives, and she had an incredible collection of vintage clothing that gave our neighbourhood a one-of-a-kind look because of her contribution.
‘Tracey was more than just a friend.
‘Her upbeat energy and infectious laughter became indispensable components of the lively environment that characterises our community after she passed away.
‘As a result of her contributions, both in the realm of business and friendship, she left an indelible mark on everyone who came into contact with her.
‘As we come together to remember her, our thoughts are with her family, friends, and anyone else whose life she touched with her kind and generous spirit.
‘Tracey will be sorely missed, and the void that will be left behind by her absence will be keenly felt by each and every one of us here at Alty Market.’
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