Cheryl Cole divorced love rat hubby ASHLEY in the High Court on Friday. The couple's case - referred to only by their initials - topped a list of splits scheduled for the divorce date. X Factor's Cheryl, 27, filed for divorce on grounds of unreasonable behaviour by England ace Ashley, 29. The process to formally dissolve the pair's shattered four-year marriage began at 10am - and was over in less than 60 seconds. In a procedure taking just seconds, district judge Christopher Simmonds granted the decree nisi in court nine. After a six-week cooling-off period the decree absolute will be granted - leaving no legal connection between the stars. Cheryl's legal team first sent papers to Cole last May and filed for divorce. Cole responded immediately - accepting his infidelity had wrecked the marriage. The process stalled after GIRLS ALOUD singer Cheryl - full name Cheryl Ann Cole - caught malaria in July and did not request the decree nisi. But after bouncing back she ordered her legal team to "get things moving" as a priority. A request was made to the High Court to have the couple's names removed from legal papers in a bid to avoid publicity. The case is referred to only under their initials - reading CAC v AC - but topped today's list of 29 divorces at the court. Neither star attended. A source said: "Cheryl is in the States but is watching things very closely. She is relieved and pleased things have progressed significantly since her illness. She just wants to move on with her life and getting the divorce done will end a very painful chapter. "It must not be forgotten Cheryl did not ask for this - the last thing she expected was to be a divorcee at 27. But once she accepted there was no way the marriage could work without the trust destroyed by her husband, the pill was a slightly less bitter one to swallow. "She and Ashley have no need to stay in touch and all housing and assets will be handled by their legal representatives."