Manchester United legend Evra handed suspended prison sentence after owing ₦1.7 billion in alimony

Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra has been handed a suspended 12-month prison sentence after being found guilty of abandoning his family for over two years.

According to reports from Le Parisien, Evra owes €969,000 (₦1.69 billion) in unpaid alimony after leaving his wife, Sandra Evra, and their two children between May 1, 2021, and September 28, 2023 as alleged by the Nanterre prosecutor's office.

The 12-month sentence is suspended for two years with provisional execution. Additionally, Evra has been ordered to pay his wife €4,000 (£3,358) for moral damages and €2,000 (£1,679) for legal costs. Despite the ruling, Evra has launched an appeal, with his lawyer Jerome Boursican stating that "the facts are disputed" by his client.

Evra's lawyer, Jerome Boursican, has insisted that his client disputes the facts of the case. Boursican claimed that Evra provided his wife with substantial support, including an apartment, a house with a swimming pool in the south of France, and nearly two million euros for her daily expenses. According to Boursican, Sandra Evra refuses to return this sum, which he asserts is the reason for the trial. Evra's representatives have not yet commented on the matter.

Sandra and Evra married in 2007 and share two children, Lenny and Maona. Divorce proceedings were initiated by Evra in 2020 but remain incomplete over four years later. The couple's marital issues became public in July 2020 when photos of Evra kissing Danish model Margaux Alexandra were published. Evra and Alexandra, who are now engaged, have two children together.

Acting on behalf of Sandra, lawyer Nathalie Dubois expressed hope that this decision would remind Patrice Evra that he is not above the law and cannot abandon his wife and children without consequences. Sandra and Evra met when they were 15 and she supported him throughout his football career, following him worldwide.

Sandra was reportedly heartbroken when Evra left her, with their separation becoming public after Evra was seen with Alexandra five months later. Sandra shared with The Sun the emotional toll it took on her, stating, "That was the worst day of my life. I was devastated, distraught." She revealed that Evra left her with financial burdens and called him a "rat" for his actions.

The couple’s estrangement began when Evra traveled to their second home in Battersea, London, in January 2020 for a "15-day work trip" and officially filed for divorce on March 4, leaving Sandra stunned. Evra allegedly used his solicitor to inform Sandra of his desire for a divorce.

Earlier this year, Evra was spotted with another woman during a night out, further highlighting the ongoing personal turmoil surrounding his relationships.