A convicted heroin importer was allowed to return to the UK 12 years after being deported to Pakistan - following his marriage to a millionaire, a High Court judge has heard.

The marriage had broken down two years after the man had been given permission to return on a 30-month "spousal visa".

He had then been given legal aid when a divorce cash dispute broke out in a family court.

Detail has emerged in a ruling by Mr Justice Moor who had been asked to analyse the latest round of the divorce cash litigation at a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

Mr Justice Moor said the man was believed to be unemployed - and indicated that he wanted to stay in the UK.

The judge did not identify the couple.

But he said the man, who is thought to be Pakistani, was 42 and the woman, who is thought to be English, 51.

He said the woman was a "brand director" who earned £300,000 a year plus bonuses.

She had met the man in 2008 after travelling to Pakistan to play polo.

Mr Justice Moor said the woman had described having assets worth nearly £2 million following the marriage breakdown.

The man was thought to be "relying on the assistance of friends".

Mr Justice Moor said the man had been arrested when entering the UK in 1993.

He had been convicted of importing heroin, given a 10-year prison sentence and deported back to Pakistan in 1999 - after failing in a bid to claim asylum.

But in 2009 he had married the woman in Pakistan.

And in 2011 he had returned to the UK to live with his wife after being granted the 30-month "spousal visa".

The couple had divorced in the spring of 2013 - five months before the man's visa expired, added Mr Justice Moor.

They had then become embroiled in the family court money dispute.

The woman had run up £150,000 in legal bills. The man had initially been legally aided - then later represented himself.

Mr Justice Moor said in July the district judge had dismissed the man's application for "financial provision" from his ex-wife following a family court trial - and ordered him to return a Porsche car to her.

The man had wanted to appeal and had asked Mr Justice Moor for permission.

But Mr Justice Moor refused his application, saying an appeal had no "real prospect of success".

Mr Justice Moor said the man had appealed against the expiry of his visa.

A hearing of that immigration appeal had taken place two months ago - and Mr Justice Moor indicated that the man was still waiting for the result.

"In 1993 he was arrested entering the United Kingdom and eventually convicted of importing heroin and given a 10-year prison sentence. He was recommended for deportation. In March 1999 he unsuccessfully applied for asylum. He was deported back to Pakistan," said Mr Justice Moor.

"In November 2008 the parties met in Pakistan when the wife went there to play polo. They married on 2nd January 2009 in Pakistan. Initially the husband was not permitted to enter this country as a result of the deportation order...

"On 15th May 2011 the husband was granted a spousal visa for 30 months. He came to this country and resided with the wife at her property."

The judge said the marriage was "clearly not a success" and had ended in April 2013.

He added: "The husband's visa expired on 3rd August 2013. He decided to appeal. That appeal, as I understand it, was heard on 16th October 2014. I am told that he has not yet heard the result."