A top banking and finance lawyer with one of the world's largest law firms retrieved a machete from his boutique Kensington hotel and brandished it at a group he clashed with at a nearby nightclub.
Jesler Hartman-Kok, 31, a lawyer with continental giants Nauta Dutilh - voted 2012's European practice of the year by the International Financial Law Review - escaped prison with a suspended sentence.
"The concern is that if people have weapons they are always likely to be used," Isleworth Crown Court Judge Andrew McDowall told the defendant. "There could have been terrible injuries caused."
Hartman-Kok, (pictured) of Cascades Tower, Canary Wharf pleaded guilty to possession of an article with a blade outside the base2stay hotel, Courtfield Gardens in the early hours of January 27.
Prosecutor Mr. James O'Connell told the court: "It appears there was an incident at 2am at the Mango Lounge club in Earl's Court Road, which included this defendant and some other people.
"The defendant produced a machete that he waved at members of the public and he says it was as a result of an earlier altercation when people followed him to his hotel and he returned with the machete.
"Members of the public were very scared and had followed him back to the hotel and saw him go in and called the police."
Hartman-Kok, who has kept his arrest and prosecution secret from his employers and family, quickly showed police the fearsome machete, which was under his hotel room bed.
"He answered very little questions as to what had occurred," added Mr. O'Connell.
"Although the weapon was brandished it was not used, thankfully. There was a distance between him and the people and nobody was injured, but they were frightened."
Hartman-Kok's lawyer Mr. Henry Gordon said: "I have very rarely met a man as remorseful and contrite. He is shocked and ashamed and his behaviour is out of character.
"Clearly this case is aggravated by the fact Mr. Hartman-Kok returned back outside with this article.
"The item was only carried for a matter of minutes and he had no intention of using it.
"His intention was to scare this group off.
"Mr. Hartman-Kok realises he should have remained inside his hotel room and regrets not doing so," explained Mr. Gordon. "The other group accept they were aggressive and armed themselves with a piece of wood.
"He is a qualified lawyer, an international commercial lawyer, specialising in banking and finance.
"It is a career he has worked very hard to achieve and a career he loves."
The court heard Hartman-Kok has felt vulnerable since he was attacked three years ago at 2am. "He is not a habitual knife-carrier," added Mr. Gordon.
Hartman-Kok was sentenced to twenty weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to complete 100 hours community service and pay £800 costs.
"It is accepted you were not carrying this machete with you at all times in the streets of London," Judge McDowall told the first-time offender.
"It is very much out of character and the first time you have appeared in the dock and I hope the last time."
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