A BUSINESSMAN who ran a porn website with his dominatrix girlfriend from their Little Sodbury home has been left almost penniless after a bitter breakup.

Steve Dawson, 47, was originally a client of Laura Bell, also 47, but a relationship soon blossomed out of domination sessions at her then home in east London.

They went into business, with her starring in 'femdom' movies, filmed at the £850,000 home they bought in Little Sodbury in 2006 and streamed to fans online.

But the romance turned sour and, as they tried to split their assets, a row erupted over who owned the company behind their site, The English Mansion.

Mr Dawson accused his ex of bullying and intimidating him until he had signed over his shares to her in 2009.

Despite accepting £47,500 from her for his part of the business, he sued her, demanding return of his shares and a directorship in the company.

At the High Court in 2014, Judge Anthony Havelock-Allen highlighted the bizarre aspect of the case - a man who liked to be dominated had accused his partner of bullying.

The judge ruled in her favour, meaning Miss Bell kept the company, but Mr Dawson took the case to the Court of Appeal, where three judges have now confirmed the ruling.

Lord Justice Longmore dismissed Mr Dawson's appeal, but said the marathon legal battle had been 'disastrous' for all concerned, with Miss Bell also put to 'grief, annoyance and trouble'.

The court heard that the pair first met in 2002 after Mr Dawson saw Miss Bell's videos and arranged sessions at her home in Tower Hamlets.

Soon they were a couple and, in 2004, set up Adwelsh Media Ltd to make and distribute female domination porn movies, with Miss Bell starring in many.