A FUMING ex-wife is locked in a multi-million pound legal battle to get her husband JAILED after he shacked up with a Playboy model.
Richard Rothschild split with Charmaine De Souza, 50, in 2016 – 11 years after they married and had two children together.
Two years later, the entrepreneur moved Playboy model Sherra Michelle into the former couple’s £2.3million Miami apartment.
A High Court judge split their assets in 2019 – handing De Souza £1.73million, while Rothschild, 49, was left with £634,000.
The millionaire later claimed he was “penniless” after being forced to flog his Lamborghini and hand over properties to his ex-wife.
Rothschild, who changed his name from Richard Pierzchalo-Piasecki and is not part of the famous banking family, was handed a suspended jail term along with his mum in 2019.
Both he and Wanda Radziszewska had breached court orders relating to releasing the assets De Souza had been promised.
But four years later, De Souza is still owed almost £750,000 and has been saddled with “crippling” debts while battling her ex-husband.
A judge has now warned Rothschild and Radziszewska are both at “serious risk of an order for immediate imprisonment” over their failure to free up cash to pay her.
The court was told Rothschild and De Souza had a 21-year relationship after meeting as students.
They ran a thriving west London telecomms business and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.
But their split turned bitter when Rothschild moved his then girlfriend, Playboy model Sherra Michelle, into their former condo in Miami.
He claimed the property belonged to him alone but a divorce judge ruled he had to share it 50/50 with his ex-wife.
In 2019, their wealth was divided up – with De Souza benefiting from the £1.85million business, plus cash and properties worth almost £1million.
Rothschild later launched his own legal challenge – claiming the divorce ruling was “unfair” – but the bid was unsuccessful.
He now has the threat of prison looming over him after both he and his mother allegedly blocked the sale of the former couple’s £1.23million West London apartment where Radziszewska lives.
Judges have ordered the property be sold to allow De Souza to pocket around £500,000 of the money she is owed by her ex.
But the court was told Radziszewska is refusing to budge – with her former daughter-in-law demanding both she and her son be jailed immediately.
Charles Hale KC, for Miss de Souza, told the judge: “Miss De Souza…has been crippled by ongoing costs and debt arising from the respondents’ continued breaches of court orders and failure to comply with the simplest of requests to move matters on.
“It is all of course deliberate and contumelious behaviour by both respondents, designed to thwart all reasonable attempts to bring matters to a conclusion after almost eight years of litigation.
“Despite being a full time, sole parent of two children…and running a business, the applicant has had to take on most of the burden of preparing the litigation/enforcement documents herself. It is taking its toll.
“The behaviour is not only an affront to justice and the authority of this court, but it also amounts to financial abuse of the applicant.
“She cannot obtain a mortgage for herself, saddled as she is with her massive overall debt caused by Richard Rothschild and Wanda.
“The suspension of the 2021 order committing both Richard Rothschild and Wanda must now be lifted and the consequences of their behaviour fully felt, with immediate prison sentences.”
Tom Gilchrist, for Radziszewska, said she had planned to get out of the London flat and move to her son’s Miami apartment but her husband’s poor health has prevented the move taking place.
While Rothschild, representing himself, claimed: “I’m definitely not in breach of the orders and penal notices.
“We actually have cash ready to give them straight away.”
The judge dismissed his arguments and ordered him to hand £586,000 to solicitors for De Souza within a week.
He added: “You’ve had something like five years. If you don’t like those terms, it wont be paid and the committal will take place.
“Both Mr Rothschild and his mother must understand that if the breaches of the orders are found, they are at serious risk of an order for immediate imprisonment.”
The case will return to court at a later date.
