A Canadian man has been sentenced to jail after he was found guilty of burning a million dollars in cash in a bid to avoid his ex-wife from getting any money.

Bruce McConville, 55, a businessman from Ottawa was sentenced to 30 days jail after telling a judge that he had burned a million Canadian dollars (AU$1.54 million), to avoid having to pay his ex-wife child support in their divorce settlement.

McConville allegedly took the cash out of six different bank accounts over 25 withdrawals, keeping the receipts from each transaction as proof.

© Facebook

He then told the judge who was overseeing the case that he burned the money in two separate bonfires — $1.1 million on September 23 and $440,000 on December 15.

"How does destroying over a million dollars advance your child's best interest?" Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips asked McConville in court.

McConville said that it isn't something he would usually do, and that he is usually very frugal.

He also acknowledged that he had no proof that he had indeed burned the money, however insisted he did so out of frustration.

© Facebook

The judge in the case was reportedly livid at hearing the man's actions, even more so for his disregard for his children.

"You are making a mockery of this court, and its process — something I will not allow," Phillips reportedly told McConville.

"You are conducting yourself with intent to deliberately and willfully frustrate the proper administration of justice.

"More particularly, I find what you have done to be morally reprehensible because what you claim to have done willfully and directly undermines the interests of your children."

McConville was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment and a US$2000-a-day fine, to be paid to his former wife until he discloses his finances.