A SCOTS businessman accused of manipulating his financial affairs so as to "do down" his estranged wife has told a judge:

"I have nothing to hide."

Scot Young told Mr Justice Moor that he had been very successful and might be again - but he said he had suffered a "financial collapse".

Mr Young, 51, was giving evidence at a trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London where he and his estranged wife Michelle, 49, are fighting over money.

Mrs Young says Mr Young is worth "a few billion at least" and says his estranged husband had hidden a "vast fortune" from her.

She says she is a victim of "fraud" because Mr Young has manipulated his affairs so as to do her down - she and wants her fair share.

Mr Young, who was born in Dundee, disputes Mrs Young's claims.

He says he is penniless and bankrupt, a victim of financial meltdown and has debts adding up to £28 million.

Mr Justice Moor has heard the Youngs, who both live in London and have two daughters, separated in 2006 after starting a relationship in 1989.

Giving evidence yesterday, Mr Young said yesterday he had suffered a "crash".

"I am basically not the man I was," said Mr Young. "I have been very successful in the past. I would like to think that I could be successful in the future."

Mr Young conceded he was "slightly unorthodox" in the way he conducted his business and was reluctant to keep up to date with emails and paperwork.

"I arrange the deals then I hand them over to highly paid professional like yourselves [lawyers] to do the business," Mr Young said.

He also hit out at his former solicitor, Stanley Beller, describing him as "my worst enemy".

On Wednesday, Mr Beller claimed Mr Young once seized £13 million of share certificates from his office and later ­effectively ruined him.

"I find it difficult saying his first name," said Mr Young.

Rex Howling, QC, defending Mrs Young, suggested to the tycoon: "You deliberately distanced yourself from your assets and tried to put your assets beyond her [Mrs Young's] reach."

Mr Young denied the claim, telling the barrister he had "got it horribly wrong again".

Asked by Mr Howling if he felt uneasy, Mr Young replied: "I'm totally relaxed."

Mr Young did not give his address but indicated that he lived in the west end of London with partner Noelle Reno. He said the rent on their apartment was about £4000 a month and was paid for by a "very good friend".

It was suggested to Mr Young that he could live in a cheaper apartment and give money to his wife.

"I don't speak to my wife," said Mr Young. "The people who give me money would certainly not give me money to give to my wife after what she has done in the press by selling stories, inaccurate stories. A lot of people are very unhappy with my wife."

Mrs Young says she wants her fair share of her husband's money and would settle for £300m, plus legal expenses. She wants a £25m house and wants to live in Belgravia, central London.

The court later heard that papers belonging to Mr Young listed a project called "Marriage Walk".

Documents indicated that the ­property dealer had been involved in a number of "projects", Mr Justice Moor was told. However, Mr Young said he could remember no details of the Marriage Walk.

The trial continues.