TV chef Marco Pierre White’s family turn out to support him as his money row with his estranged wife ends up in the High Court more than a decade after they separated
- Marco Pierre White, 58, and his wife Matilde separated over a decade ago
- She wants him jailed after he failed to pay her alimony as ordered by a judge
- Pierre White says he cannot afford payments and wants them reviewed
- Mr Justice Holman at the Family Division of High Court postponed case to 2020
TV Chef Marco Pierre White and his estranged wife are embroiled in a High Court row over money – more than a decade after they separated.
Matilde White today asked a High Court judge to consider jailing her husband after he failed to pay alimony as previously agreed in court.
But the celebrity chef, 58, claims he cannot afford the payments and is asking for them to reviewed.
The estranged couple, who married in 2000 but separated more than 10 years ago, attended the family court hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today.
Mr White was accompanied by his two sons Marco Pierre White Jr and Luciano, as well as his teenage daughter Mirabelle, while their mother arrived with a mystery man.
Mr Justice Holman said their arguments would be considered at further hearings next year.
TV Chef Marco Pierre White (pictured second right with daughter Mirabelle and sons Luciano far right and Marco White Junior left today) and his estranged wife are embroiled in a High Court row over money – more than a decade after they separated
He said he hoped they would be able to settle their differences out of court.
Mr Justice Holman was told that they had been involved in litigation between 2008 and 2011 – and had run up lawyers’ bills in the region of £2 million.
He said their fight had now started ‘all over again’.
The judge said Mr White, 58, had now petitioned for divorce and Mrs White had made a money claim.
No decision had yet been made on how much she should walk away with.
![Matilde White (pictured outside Royal Courts of Justice) today asked a High Court judge to consider jailing her husband after he failed to pay alimony as previously agreed in court](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/17/19/22366406-7802665-image-m-18_1576611156887.jpg)
Matilde White (pictured outside Royal Courts of Justice) today asked a High Court judge to consider jailing her husband after he failed to pay alimony as previously agreed in court
But a less senior judge had ordered Mr White to make alimony payments pending final decisions.
Mr Justice Holman said a judge would first have to consider whether the size of alimony payments Mr White had been told to pay should be varied because he did not have enough money.
A judge would then separately have to consider Mrs White’s application to consider having Mr White committed to prison for not paying what he had been ordered to pay.
He said those hearings would probably be staged in spring and early summer, if the pair could not agree a settlement.
Mr Justice Holman said Mr White would have to provide details of his finances to Mrs White.
Barrister Philip Perrins, who represented Mrs White, said his client was in a ‘desperate’ situation.
He said she was bankrupt, in rented accommodation and facing being made homeless.
‘She is in an invidious position,’ Mr Perrins told the judge. She needs sufficient funds to live, to house herself and to be represented.’
![Mr White was accompanied by his two sons Marco White Jr (left) and Luciano (right) and his daughter Mirabelle (second left) and their mother by a mystery man](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/17/19/22366400-7802665-image-a-19_1576611175303.jpg)
Mr White was accompanied by his two sons Marco White Jr (left) and Luciano (right) and his daughter Mirabelle (second left) and their mother by a mystery man
He said Mr White owed Mrs White alimony and she wanted a judge to consider jailing him in the hope of forcing him to pay.
Mr Perrins said Mr White had a ‘high income’.
‘It’s simply obvious,’ said Mr Perrins. The question is what he does with it and how he spends it.’
He said Mr White was making alimony payments but not at the level he had been ordered to.
Barrister Oliver Wise, who represented Mr White, said his client wanted the amounts of alimony he had been ordered to pay changed.
Mr Wise said Mr White could not afford to pay more than he was currently paying.