A WIFE who sent thousands of pounds to her on-the-run husband claimed she was ‘pressured’ into funding his new life abroad.

Phoebe McKenzie, of Winterborne Close, Bicester, denies one count of perverting the course of public justice between September 8 2016 and January 9 2017.

The 42-year old is alleged to have sent money via Western Union to her husband Paul McKenzie, who was due to appear at Oxford Crown Court to face charges of possessing indecent images of children.

McKenzie took to the witness box as her trial at Oxford Crown Court continued yesterday.

She told the jury that she had been oblivious to Mr McKenzie’s whereabouts and that she only sent him about £2,400 because he had forced her to do it.

The mother-of-three who is originally from Australia told the court: “He was pressuring me into it. He would not leave me alone.

“He kept going on about it. He was saying that he needed the money but not why or what he needed it for but I was assuming that he was not here.

“He had not come to court and to the court case. I thought he was in Bicester at the time.”

Numerous text message exchanges were also read out to the court from McKenzie asking where her husband had gone as well as extensive phone records showing calls between the pair.

McKenzie also claimed that she continued to send him money as he had been taken ill in Germany and had no money for food or drink.

The prosecution maintain that the transfers kept her husband from facing the two charges. The trial continues.