London, Mar. 27 : A client has claimed that a married British barrister with whom she had an affair charged her 250 pounds an hour for the time he spent having sex with her.

In legal papers filed before the London High Court, Anal Sheikh, 48, claimed that she enjoyed secret love trysts with high-flying solicitor Marc Beaumont, 46.

In a High Court writ, she alleged Beaumont charged her 250 pounds an hour while helping her to prepare a defence in a disciplinary case brought against her by the Law Society.

But she claimed the dad of three billed her at the same rate for an encounter when they "shared a bottle of wine before sex". And he charged her for his time when they were "making love or enjoying each other's company".

Sheikh also alleged that she met Beaumont for an "early evening in bed together" while his wife Michele was away on holiday with their children.

The next day, she claimed, they had another meeting during which they were "physically intimate and distracted by each other throughout".

The sex allegations are contained in an 81-page writ drawn up by Sheikh and served on Beaumont, reports The Sun.

Beaumont has swish chambers in Windsor, Berks, and was once named Lawyer of the Week by The Times.

Sheikh is suing him for just under 800,000 pounds in compensation, special damages and interest.

Her writ tells how she hired ex-public schoolboy Beaumont to help her defend the disciplinary case, using a fighting fund from an insurance company to pay him.

She entered into a fixed fee agreement of 120,000 pounds plus 250 pounds per hour for extra unforeseen or urgent work.

Sheikh, who insists she has been cleared of the disciplinary charges, claimed several of their "legal conferences" were actually used as excuses to meet or have sex.

Her action allegedly describes how romance blossomed after they started to enjoy drinks together.

The writ claims their professional relationship became a love affair after Beaumont told Sheikh he had "feelings for her".

The writ says that at one point, Beaumont told Michele, 50, about the affair - and said he was thinking of leaving her to be with Sheikh, who lives with her mother in Stanmore, North West London.

Beaumont last night refused to comment, but a lawyer acting for him said a counter-action will be lodged next week. (ANI)