Matthew Perrin’s ex-wife Nicole Bricknell describes family’s nightmare

THE ex-wife of disgraced corporate titan Matthew Perrin has described the past nine years of her life as “horrific” and a “nightmare”.

Nicole Bricknell, the ex-wife of former Billabong boss Matthew Perrin, arrives at the District Court. Picture: Dan Peled

THE ex-wife of disgraced corporate titan Matthew Perrin has described the past nine years of her life as “horrific” and a “nightmare”, and promised her family to “stay strong” for them.

In a New Year’s message posted on Facebook, Gold Coast real estate agent Nicole Bricknell told her supporters that the saga which culminated in Perrin’s imprisonment in December showed that “we are survivors”.

“For my beautiful children ... my family, extended family, myself and friends ... I will stay strong, work hard and provide everything I can for my children,” Ms Bricknell wrote.

“I’m so proud of them and their strength and courage throughout this nightmare nine years,” she wrote.

“It’s been horrific and they have generally been amazing. We’ve had ups and many many downs, but we are survivors. I love them so deeply and am beyond proud of my three (children),” she wrote.

Nicole Bricknell is the ex-wife of failed surfwear mogul Matthew Perrin. Picture: Jodie Richter

Perrin was convicted of nine fraud and forgery charges by a District Court jury on December 20. He is set to be sentenced on January 27.

Ms Bricknell and Perrin began dating as teenagers and were married for 13 years before separating in September 2009, six months after Perrin went bankrupt.

During Perrin’s trial, Ms Bricknell told the jury she believed her husband’s financial betrayal of his family was of the worst kind – worse than adultery.

Perrin became bankrupt with debts of $28 million on March 4, 2009 and was released three years later on March 5, 2012.

Former Billabong boss Matthew Perrin arrives for his trial at the District Court in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled