Joint bank account withdrawals

[Mylifestartstoday]

Myself and STBXH had to open a bank account in order to get our mortgage agreed. As far as I was aware this was purely the only reason for the account, but when we sold the previous home he decided to get the proceeds placed into it. It was to be used for a home extension.
Without my knowledge he transferred all the funds to an account in his sole name, and proceeded to spend the lot (£80k). I discovered this shortly after I discovered his 3 year affair. I believe this is where the money has gone, it’s expensive running 2 lives.
Although it was joint, I had no access to it, I never used it. I’ve been referred to a domestic abuse charity because he’s been financially and emotionally abusive, and we are due in court about finances.
Are there any legal avenues I can pursue regards this money, or, because it was a joint account, did he have the right to take it and spend it on whatever he deemed fit? If anyone can help, I’d be really grateful. I’m struggling to get my head around all of this, how I could be so stupid

Hopefully someone will come to comment on what you can do about the money he’d spend and if you can get it back.

I’ve got a shared account with DH and either of us can withdraw or transfer any sum we want out of it. The largest purchase I made out of there was for over 10k and DH wasn’t in any way needed to carry out the transaction.

I doubt you can claim ‘no access to it’ as you certainly could go into the bank and get the money any day. It’ll be more a case of how it’s viewed in the context of your relationship.

As it was a joint account either of you could spend any money in it however you wanted. However, it is possible that his behaviour will affect the financial settlement when you divorce.