Cherie Blair guru stole my husband

 Caplin has killed my marriage

By Nadia Cohen

A DEVASTATED bride last night sensationally accused Cherie Blair's controversial lifestyle guru Carole Caplin of wrecking her nine-month marriage.

Rachel Wood revealed how her beefy builder husband Rod fell under the beauty's spell as he renovated her £700,000 penthouse.

Since then the two have been bombarding each other day and night with text messages and phone calls.

And we can reveal that smitten Rod, 42, has bragged to pals: "I'm in love with her."

Now heartbroken Rachel, 34, has kicked him out of the home they share with their three young sons.

"That cow has ruined all our lives," she stormed. "Because of Caplin I'm getting divorced just nine months after our wedding.

"She controls everything Rod does. He has changed so much from the man I fell in love with. She instigated the breakdown of our marriage.

"I can't understand the power she has over him. She tells him what to do all the time. He is always on the phone to her for advice on how to live his life.

Erotic

"And she has told him he can use her flat whenever he likes.

"He finished work there long ago —so it's hardly for professional reasons, is it?"

Caplin, 43—infamous for the power she seems to hold over Cherie Blair and Prime Minister Tony—met Rod in March when she hired him to renovate her north London apartment which is adorned with erotic artwork of lovers in explicit poses.

Rachel said Rod was immediately starstruck by his celebrity client whose last boyfriend, conman Peter Foster, ended up being deported after the Cheriegate flats scandal.

"Rod told me that Carole had been messed around by some other builders and he'd been recommended by a friend.

"They went out for a meal to discuss what needed to be done," said Rachel.

"I thought that was odd for a start—that's not how most people deal with builders.

"He said she was a very nice woman and admitted that he found her attractive but I didn't think anything of it until I started to see her mobile number appearing on the phone bill more and more.

"Then he started hiding the bills in his lunchbox so I couldn't find them."

Suspicious Rachel began monitoring Rod's calls to Caplin—who also doles out bizarre sex advice.

"There were four to six a day and five or six daily text messages between them," said Rachel. "On the night of March 31 alone he sent her nine texts."

Then came the confrontation Rachel was dreading. "A few weeks ago Rod told me he wanted us to split. He's so different now I felt I hadno choice but to agree," said Rachel.

"I believe his relationship with Carole was why he wanted to end our marriage. After all, she is telling him what to do.

"She seems to be giving him the same kind of advice she gives Cherie Blair. Rod told me that she tells him how to live. He says he talks to her about our split and she helps him ‘not to crack up'.

"She even told him to give up drinking and he did. He's clearly impressed by her celebrity status."

Rachel revealed it's not the first time Rod has been starstruck. He was once was linked to a superstar's sister-in-law when he worked on a gym she was building.

Love

But he broke off the relationship and stayed with Rachel and their sons aged 10, six and two at their home in Worthing, West Sussex.

Rachel said: "After that I used to joke that he should find someone rich and pay me off but now our house is for sale and he tells me he is looking to move to London.

"When I asked him if he was going out with her, he said, ‘Not yet, but I will do when I sort it out.'

"If he's not sleeping with her already he obviously plans to soon."

Rod has been telling pals in pubs in his home town—over a non-alcoholic drink—that he's fallen for Caplin.

One friend said: "Rod can't believe what's happened to him. He's been telling everyone he wants to s*** Carole.

"He is a real party animal and is famous for getting completely smashed and stripping off in the pub. But he's calmed down recently. He said they fell in love while he was doing up her flat."

Rod has even bragged to his mates that Caplin wants him to flatten her ex-boyfriend Foster.

"He says she told him, ‘I can't wait until you meet Peter Foster. You can stick one on him.' She even jokingly said he could go to Australia to do it.

"Rod was quite shocked by what she said. He is a peaceable bloke who wouldn't hurt a fly."

Foster and Caplin split after Cheriegate in which he helped the PM's wife buy two flats in Bristol.

Despite the scandal, Caplin remained close to Cherie who relies on her to tell her what to wear and how best to look after herself. She has even showered with Cherie and given her a body rub.

In the past brunette Caplin has dated pop stars Adam Ant—even appearing his Prince Charming video —and Gary Numan.

"Celebrities like her have always appealed to Rod," sighed Rachel who has now reverted to her maiden name Smithson. "He's clearly impressed by her money and glamour and she has turned his head.

"We've been together 12 years and now I'm filing for divorce. I feel awful that I have lost my husband to an older woman—but there's no way I can compete with all that.

"I don't know Carole Caplin. I've never spoken to her. But I'd like to— just to ask what the hell she think's she's doing with my husband."