Footballer and ex-lover battle it out in court

SOCCER star Wayne Bridge and his ex-lover Vanessa Perroncel met up at the High Court yesterday to battle over what is believed to be the financial arrangements for their three-year-old son Jaydon.

Bridge, 29, was soberly suited in grey check but Perroncel was dressed to kill in skin-tight black trousers, black jacket and five-inch black stiletto shoes.

Neither commented while entering or leaving the court, where there was a private hearing in front of District Judge Peter Greene yesterday morning.

A second hearing before District Judge Anne Aitken yesterday afternoon was scheduled to be open to the press, but the former couple and their lawyers spent the rest of the afternoon negotiating outside court behind closed doors.

It has been reported that the French lingerie model was claiming that the £88,000-a-week (€98,000) Manchester City player had offered her £3,000 (€3,400) a month to bring up their child.

Bridge was said to be convinced his ex was paid up to £800,000 (€892,000) by his former Chelsea and England teammate John Terry after his affair with Perroncel came to light.

This allegation that Perroncel took the money to buy her silence has been denied by her publicity agent, Max Clifford.

Lucy Stone QC, representing Bridge, Jonathan Cohen QC, representing Perroncel, and other lawyers in court were not prepared to deny or confirm the figures.

Because the negotiations were outside court, there was no obligation to divulge any outcome.