Michelle Young, estranged wife of property tycoon and ‘fixer’ Scot Young, has been granted a decree nisi by District Judge Heather MacGregor. Ms Young’s petition was passed uncontested in a mere 90 seconds. There will now be a six week wait until their marriage is officially dissolved by a decree absolute.
The Youngs had been married for 18 years and have two daughters, Scarlet and Sasha together. Having once led a jet-set lifestyle, owning six mansions in Belgravia and a yacht in Monaco, Michelle Young cited ‘unreasonable behaviour’ in her divorce petition.
Despite having been ordered to pay Ms Young £27,500 a month in maintenance, Mr Young has so far failed to pay anything, and faces arrears close to £1 million after claiming to have lost all of his £400 million fortune after a Moscow property deal fell through.
Complications arose when Michelle Young insisted that her husband had up to £2 billion secreted away in off-shore accounts, and had been lying about his true financial circumstances. Mr Scot continues to object to paying for divorce proceedings, writing: ““I am technically insolvent, but if my financial position changes I am happy to pay.”
Scot Young was jailed in January 2013 for two counts of contempt of court after failing to produce paperwork to back up his lost fortune claims. The decree nisi has gone ahead while he remains in prison. The suspended committal to prison which was crystallised in Mr Young’s prison sentence was obtained for Mrs Young by Vardags.
Michelle Young has asserted: “I suffered insomnia, as did the children, as a consequence of the respondent’s abusive behaviour.”
To read more about Young v Young click here
Vardags Limited is a limited company trading as Vardags, Company No 7199468, registered in England and Wales, having its registered office at 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG. Vardags is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 535955). The term “Director” is used to refer to a director of Vardags Limited or to a non-legally qualified employee or consultant of Vardags Limited with equivalent standing; the term “Director” does not necessarily imply that the relevant individual is a director of Vardags Limited. The term “Partner” is used to refer to a legally qualified director of Vardags Limited or a legally qualified employee or consultant of Vardags Limited with equivalent standing; the title “Partner” does not necessarily imply that the relevant individual is a director of Vardags Limited and does not imply that they are a partner in the legalsense. Our Partners are not liable for the debts, liabilities or obligations of Vardags Limited. A list of the directors of Vardags Limited and a list of the names of those using the title of “Director” or “Partner” together with their official status available for inspection at Vardags’ registered office. VAT number: 99 001 7230.