Former England footballer Andy Carroll has been fined £20,000 after admitting to multiple breaches of a court-imposed financial order linked to his ongoing legal dispute with his ex-wife, reality television personality Billi Mucklow. The ruling was delivered at Chelmsford County Court on Thursday, where District Judge Teresa Foss warned Carroll that he had come close to facing imprisonment for repeatedly spending funds that were supposed to be preserved ahead of a forthcoming five-day financial hearing.

Carroll, 37, admitted to five separate breaches of the financial order, which prohibited non-essential expenditures. Court documents revealed he had spent a total of £69,181, which included £5,556 on a car upgrade, £10,000 given to the brother of his current girlfriend, and payments towards building work on his parents’ home. The judge described these actions as a serious disregard of the court’s directive but ultimately decided that prison would be a disproportionate penalty.

Legal representatives offered differing perspectives during the hearing. Carroll’s lawyer contended that the amount spent was relatively minor in the context of his overall financial situation and ongoing legal costs. “I would submit £69,000 is a drop in the ocean, given how much is involved, including significant legal fees,” the defense noted. Conversely, Billi Mucklow’s legal team argued the expenditures were unnecessary and a clear defiance of the court’s order. Counsel for Mucklow said, “Nothing was necessary expenditure. He has, I submit, thumbed his nose at the order of this court.”

Carroll’s legal adviser also highlighted his client’s lack of personal financial management, explaining that Carroll focused primarily on his football career and depended on others to oversee his finances.

The former Premier League forward, known for his time at Newcastle United, Liverpool, and West Ham United, attended the hearing alongside his current partner, Lou Teasdale. Carroll’s football career has recently included spells with French sides Amiens and Bordeaux before joining National League South club Dagenham & Redbridge in 2025. Earlier, his financial status had been noted in the 2019 Sunday Times Rich List, which estimated his fortune at £19 million.

In a separate legal matter, Carroll is scheduled to face trial next year over allegations of violating a non-molestation order, adding to ongoing legal challenges outside the financial dispute with Mucklow.