Skacel sues ex for emptying account account

HEARTS hero Rudi Skacel has launched a court battle against his former girlfriend, accusing her of taking £43,000 from their joint account after they split.

The Czech midfielder claims Savannah Fairnie, 25, took a total of 62,019.05 from the account, and has only repaid 19,000. He says the money had been paid in by him and is suing her for the unpaid remainder.

Ms Fairnie, a model, claims Mr Skacel, 31, knew she had taken the money.

Since their split in September 2009, Ms Fairnie has moved back in with her parents, Michael, 49 and Margaret, 53 in Musselburgh.

She says the money she removed from the joint account was used to transport Mr Skacel's car to the Czech Republic, pay the mortgage on their 360,000 shared home in Southampton and move her furniture back to Scotland after they split.

But the footballer's lawyer Niall Hassard told Edinburgh Sheriff Court she had no permission to withdraw the funds from the account.

He said: "This was money that was paid into the account solely by him. It was his account and her name was added to it at a later date. It came as a shock to him to see that these funds had been withdrawn."

The court heard that the account had originally been in Mr Skacel's name, but Ms Fairnie's name was added to it when they became a couple.

She had given up work to support Mr Skacel at home, and while they were together she was given 720 a month and had a cheque book and debit card for the account in both their names.

Ms Fairnie's lawyer Naomi Pryde said Mr Skacel had given the go-ahead for the spending after the couple split and was trying to force her to give up her share of their former home in England.

She said: "The account in question was a joint account.

"The pursuer specifically told her that the remainder of the account was to be used to help her get back on her feet."

Ms Fairnie's own bank account has been frozen until the case is concluded.

Following an arrestment order made earlier this month, she asked the court yesterday to have the account unfrozen, but this was rejected.

Mr Hassard told the court: "It could guard what little funds may be there until the potential recovery."

The case continues.