Daily Mail

Petra granted divorce as £5.5bn fight ends

- By Tom Kelly

FORMULA One heiress Petra Ecclestone was granted a divorce yesterday after she and estranged husband James Stunt ended a bitter legal fight over their £5.5billion fortune.

Lawyers revealed a settlement had been reached as the couple, who have three children, were due to begin a two- day battle at the Central Family Court in London.

When told they had come to an ‘extremely desirable’ agreement, Judge Robin Tolson QC granted socialite Miss Ecclestone, 28, a decree nisi. She will be able to apply for a decree absolute, ending the marriage, in six weeks.

Neither Miss Ecclestone, youngest daughter of billionair­e Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, nor gold bullion trader Mr Stunt, 35, was in court for the hearing.

Afterwards, Mr Stunt said in a statement: ‘I am devastated that my marriage has broken down. I love Petra and our children.’

Miss Ecclestone’s father, 86, told MailOnline: ‘I’m just glad it’s over. Petra is too. She has been very tolerant and has been concerned about James. Now we are going for a family meal. No champagne, no big celebratio­n.’

Her sister Tamara, 33, posted her support on Instagram, saying: ‘You’re a diamond dear, they can’t break you.’

No details of the settlement were revealed. Mr Stunt signed a prenuptial agreement worth £16million. The couple’s assets include a £100million Chelsea mansion and a £158million home in Los Angeles.

They met in 2006 and married in 2011 in a £12million ceremony in Rome. But in June they began their court battle which saw Mr Stunt evicted from the Chelsea property.

During a bad-tempered hearing, details of their marriage were laid bare, including allegation­s that he was abusive, violent and took overdoses.

 ??  ?? Bitter courtroom battle: Petra and James Stunt in 2012
Bitter courtroom battle: Petra and James Stunt in 2012
 ??  ?? Part of the settlement: The couple’s £158m mansion in Beverly Hills
Part of the settlement: The couple’s £158m mansion in Beverly Hills

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom