A Excessive Court docket choose has defined why he’s in opposition to handing a jail sentence to 88-year-old Sir Frederick Barclay, regardless of discovering the retired businessman in contempt of court docket.
Sir Jonathan Cohen has been overseeing a combat over cash between Sir Frederick and his ex-wife Woman Hiroko Barclay, who can also be in her 80s, for greater than two years.
In Might 2021, Sir Jonathan ordered Sir Frederick at hand Woman Barclay lump sums totalling £100 million after the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.
I don’t wish to run the threat of ruining what’s Woman Barclay’s greatest shot by making a committal order
Sir Jonathan Cohen
The choose says Sir Frederick has but to pay.
He additionally dominated in July 2022 that Sir Frederick was in contempt on account of failing to pay about £245,000 he owed his ex-wife for authorized charges and upkeep, and he may impose a jail term or suspended jail sentence.
The choose has been informed repeatedly {that a} settlement is in the offing, and he stated at the newest listening to, in the Household Division of the Excessive Court docket, on Monday that he did not wish to “throw the child out with the bathwater”.
“I don’t wish to run the threat of ruining what’s Woman Barclay’s greatest shot by making a committal order,” he stated.
“I’m fairly glad in the circumstances that making a suspended committal order is not the way ahead at this level.”
Sir Frederick’s adviser Martin Clarke informed the choose that cash to settle the dispute has not arrived in a checking account, including that it was “most likely in the sky at the second”.
The choose stated he would rethink the case on August 4.
He added: “It’s a utterly unacceptable way to proceed however at the second I can’t consider a greater various than adjourning.”
Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David have been amongst the UK’s most high-profile businessmen.
Sir David died aged 86 in January 2021.
Their pursuits included Telegraph Media Group and The Ritz lodge in London.
The household additionally has hyperlinks to the Channel Islands and Monaco.
Sir Jonathan has been informed that Sir David’s sons Aidan and Howard Barclay now have day-to-day accountability for “group enterprise”.
In June, information emerged that the Day by day and Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator journal have been more likely to be put up for sale after talks between their homeowners and lenders collapsed.
It got here after the Barclay household denied that the enterprise may face administration.
