Hotel Tycoon In Court Again

A controversial hotelier - cleared of raping a teenager at his Mayfair home - has been fined for a race-hate rant aimed at a top private Romanian dentist during a row over x-rays and fees.

Iranian-born Ali Farhani, 52, of Charles Street (pictured before the hearing) built up a London hotel empire during the nineties and was reportedly worth £75 million.

In April he was cleared by an Old Bailey jury of drugging and raping an 18 year-old girl, but was convicted of false imprisonment after she was locked in his bedroom for a day.

On Thursday at City of London Magistrates' Court Farhani - accompanied by a stunning blonde Estonian - was convicted of threatening, abusive, insulting words or behaviour that was racially aggravated at Baker Street Dental Clinic on January 9.

Prosecutor Miss Geneveve Almeyda told the court: "The defendant received treatment at the practice on January 8 and was told he would need an x-ray and there was some discussion about the bill.

"He did not want the x-ray and the dentist did try and treat the tooth, with Mr Farhani complaining he was in pain.

"He returned the next day complaining of toothache and Dr. Ovidiu Maurer told him he needed an x-ray and an argument ensued.

"The shouting was so loud by the defendant it was heard downstairs in the waiting area," explained Miss Almeyda.

"Another dentist entered and witnessed the altercation and heard a number of expletives that were racially aggravated such as: 'Eastern European bastard, cunt, gypsy idiot'."

Police were called and Farhani was arrested, admitting to police he lost his temper. "He told officers: 'There was some argument over money and it escalated'."

Farhani was fined £300, plus a £15 victim surcharge and was ordered to pay £100 compensation to Dr. Maurer.