THE billionaire owner of Brecqhou has avoided jail after the UK’s High Court ruled that he was not in contempt of court as a result of failing to pay tens of millions of pounds he owes in a divorce settlement.
Sir Frederick Barclay, who co-owned the Channel Island with his late brother Sir David, has been locked in a dispute with his ex-wife, Lady Hiroko Barclay.
She had attempted to argue that Sir Frederick breached a legal order by failing to pay the £100 million settlement and asked the judge to sentence Sir Frederick to jail.
Sir Frederick told the court he did not have access to funds and that his money was held in trusts.
Judge Sir Jonathan Cohen, in the Family Division of the High Court in London, ruled against Lady Barclay but did find that Sir Frederick had breached other orders relating to the payment of legal fees and maintenance.
The judge said he would consider what penalties might be imposed on Sir Frederick, as a result of orders being breached, at a further hearing.
The Barclay brothers regularly featured among the Channel Islands wealthiest individuals with their business interests including Telegraph Media Group and the Ritz Hotel in London. The brothers bought the island of Brecqhou in 1993.
