The unnamed man, a 41-year-old who holds a Master’s degree and is qualified to practice as a solicitor, has been unemployed since 2011.

Although his parents had been allowing him to live in a central London flat they own at no expense, the relationship had broken down.

He brought the matter to a Family Court in London, but Sir James Munby ruled the “unprecedented” demand for continued support had no basis in law.

Sir James said the court had no jurisdiction to grant his claims under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Children Act 1989, or human rights law.

The law is clear that “a child (particularly an adult child) should not be able to take his parents to court to obtain finance”, he said.