Paul McCartney and Heather MillsWith Paul McCartney and Heather Mills‘ divorce hearing set to start in the High Court in London this week, a man has claimed he had a six month affair with Heather during the early days of her relationship and engagement to the former Beatle.

Tim Steel, a film editor, told the News of the World that the pair dated on and off for three years before Heather met Paul: “I’d been working abroad for a few months and was surprised when she told me she was dating Paul McCartney when I got back in September.”

“When we met up it turned out to be the same vegetarian restaurant down in Hove where HE had been taking her on dates. Paul even sent Heather a lovey-dovey text as we ate. She showed me it and casually quipped, ‘I’m being pursued by a Beatle’.”

“We both had a good laugh about it and then we went back to the house she shared with her sister Fiona and had sex.”

Tim claims they continued seeing each other behind Paul’s back and Heather even stayed the night with Tim before flying off for a romantic Valentine’s holiday with Paul on a private island in the Caribbean in 2000: “She was in two minds about him and was wondering if she was doing the right thing. She seemed nervous about this first holiday with him.”

“Then we made love and, as always, the sex was very good. In the morning she kissed me goodbye. She went straight from my warm bed to the airport.”

While that was the last time they had sex, Tim still stayed in touch with Heather throughout her engagement and early marriage: “I guess I hung around because I really didn’t think Heather and Paul would last. He was an old bloke and I knew what Heather was like. She was only in love with what Paul could do for her. She loved the idea of being Lady McCartney.”

“Marriage to him opened lots of doors for her - and that’s the only reason she did it. Something that could have been the best thing that ever happened to her has now turned round and bit her on the a*** big time.”

“Heather will fight Paul tooth and nail to get what she wants. I know her better than most. She’s going for the jugular and won’t shy away from fighting dirty to win.”

“If she’s got something on Paul, she won’t hesitate to use it to her advantage. With a click of the fingers, she can switch from smiles to tears. I hope Paul and his legal team know what they’re up against and are ready for her.”

Heather, who is representing herself in the High Court battle after a bitter split from her legal team, is said to be planning to focus on proving Paul’s “violent past” to show how she was abused during their four year marriage.

A source close to Heather told the People newspaper: “Heather wants to make the history of their relationship public. She has continually said she wants to reveal her husband’s violent past.”

“The public’s negative perception of her has been a constant source of distress to her and she hopes going down this route will change that.”

But divorce lawyer Vanessa Lloyd-Platt told the newspaper that it is a risky strategy: “If the judge finds there’s no truth in malicious allegations, it could massively reduce her settlement.”

“And Paul will have every right to say, ‘You have bandied about false allegations that have affected my reputation, my records, my future and my image.’ He will then be able to counter-claim - and she could be left with a lot less than she hoped for.”

Heather is also said to be planning to counter claims that Paul’s last tours made a loss of around £3million. A source told the Mail on Sunday: “He’s been claiming that during their marriage he made absolutely nothing. But he did two world tours.”

“He went all over America. He claimed they lost money, but she was involved in doing the accounts for the tour. Heather claims it made tens of millions of pounds.”
Whether or not she receives any money for herself, she is almost certain to receive child support payments in order to provide a comfortable and secure home for their four year old daughter Beatrice - but Paul’s counsel are hoping to stagger the payment of this money to buy Heather’s silence.

A McCartney source told the People: “His people have talked about amounts around the £2.5million-a-year mark until Bea is 18. By then he will be 80 and what Heather has to say will be irrelevant.”

But even at this eleventh hour, Heather is still said to be hoping for an out-of-court settlement and is willing to take just £10million of his estimated £825million fortune.

A source told the Mirror: “Heather has never wanted the divorce to end up being fought in court or for everything to become so bitter.”

“She hoped a relatively minimal payout would endear her to the public and really prove she’s no gold digger.”

“She’s been waiting for the phone call agreeing to the deal every day, though this hasn’t happened. But she’s still holding out hope and praying Paul will surprise her with a midnight call saying he’s come to his senses and will accept.”