Former Christie's Art Expert Slapped Wife During Family Road Trip

An ex-Christie's art expert slapped his wife across the face while driving in busy west London as their two children watched from the rear seat - just two days after police cautioned him for another assault on his spouse.

Dealer Damian Brenninkmeyer, 42, (pictured) was the head of the Old Masters department in Christie's Amsterdam, having been their specialist in New York and also worked at New Bond Street auction house Bonhams and Butterfields.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court yesterday to assaulting his wife of ten years Fiona Brenninkmeyer on July 7 and is currently banned from his family's Fulham postcode and is residing with his father at The Water Gardens, Warren Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

"Slugging his wife across the face while while driving on a busy road with two children in the back is one of the most dangerous things you can do," District Judge Susan Williams told Brenninkmeyer. "Things must never come to fisticuffs."

He was bailed until August 29 for a pre sentence report.

Brenninkmeyer's lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: "This is a marriage both parties think can be saved and there is an email from his wife to that effect."

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell said the family were planning to drive to Mrs Brenninkmeyer's mother's home in Buckinghamshire on that Sunday afternoon.

"Mrs Brenninkmeyer could sense a bad mood and was afraid the defendant would get angry with her, but he assured her everything was going to be okay.

"They were driving along Fulham Palace Road when the defendant became aggressive and started shouting: 'I want to punish you for what you did to me'."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer was still angry with his wife for calling the police two days earlier and told her: "I'm going to break your phone and tell the accountant not to allow you to have another.

"She said: 'Please calm down for the kids', but he started to bash his fists on the steering wheel while they were still moving," explained Mr. Mitchell.

"He then back-hand hit her across the right side of her face.

"He was driving erratically so she decided to call the police and grabbed her phone, but Mr. Brenninkmeyer grabbed her hand, clawing at her hand.

"He gave up, but grabbed her sunglasses from her lap and threw them out of the window.

"The right side of her face was throbbing and she could see bruising as the journey continued and at Beaconsfield Services she took the two girls into a service area and cried.

"Mr. Brenninkmeyer said: 'Why don't you get back in the car? You're causing a scene'."

There was another row back at the family home that night when Brenninkmeyer discovered his wife had taken money from their joint account to pay a cleaner and he pushed her down onto a sofa.

The defendant was assured the bail conditions would not prohibit him seeing his daughters.

  

"The children will have to see their father and I am sure the fact that he is not at home is distressing to them," said Mrs Williams. "This is a marriage we want to see back on the right tracks and this has to be a warning to him that something needs to be done."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer has been undergoing treatment for anxiety.

Disabled Movie-Goer Headbutted Cinema Usher During Legroom Row

A disabled cinema-goer, unhappy about the amount of legroom in the auditorium, headbutted the member of staff who had shown him to the designated area.

Disabled Yves Marie, 47, (pictured) shouted: “There's no fucking legroom,” at the Odean theatre and attacked the staff member, who he felt had brushed off his complaint.

Marie, of Orchard Court, Bell Green, Sydenham pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court to assaulting Paul Quinlan at the Beckenham cinema on May 18.

The court heard the defendant immediately expressed his unhappiness at where he was seated and got up and headbutted Mr. Quinlan on the nose, causing it to bleed.

The victim also suffered bruising and swelling to his lip.

The police were called and Marie told officers he felt Mr. Quinlan had been flippant with him and had muttered something under his breath once the complaint was made.

He told police: “I know I've done wrong.”

District Judge Leonard Fanning bailed Marie until August 20 for a probation report.

He told the defendant: “Headbutting someone acting in the course of their job is a serious matter.

“You caused significant injury by using your head. It is treated like using a weapon.”

Muslim Punched During Race-Hate Street Attack

A New Cross man, who admitted punching a Muslim in the stomach during a race-hate attack in a local street, is due to be sentenced later today.

John Coombs, 58, of Jerningham Court, Ommaney Road pleaded guilty last month to the racially aggravated assault of Bilal Jabbar in New Cross Road on May 27.

He confronted the victim in the street near his home address and shouted: “You're a Muslim bastard and you should leave my country.

“You killed my family. All you Muslim bastards should leave my country or convert to Christianity.”

Coombs then punched Mr. Jabbar in the stomach.

However, the defendant tried to back-track, insisting he is not a racist and only admitted the offence on the same day as murdered Army drummer Lee Rigby's funeral to bring the prosecution to a speedy conclusion.

"A particular drummer had died  and it was his funeral that day and I did not think it was a good day to cause any acrimony.

“I don't want to start any wars so I thought I would get it over and done with,” he told Bromley Magistrates' Court (pictured).

“I have a lot of Muslim and Pakistani friends.”

DJ Glassed During Mix Desk Row

A bolshie bar customer hurled his glass at the resident DJ – inflicting a cut above the victim's eye – after being told not to place his drink on the mix desk at the landmark west London venue.

George Harry Schwartz, 28, of Ixworth Place, Chelsea was easily traced because he had booked a booth at Henry J Bean's (picture) in King's Road.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to assaulting resident Friday night DJ Anil Marajh, causing him actual bodily harm, on June 29.

The court heard it was 10.30pm when Schwartz placed his glass on the DJ's booth, but was told to remove it because any spillage could cause damage to the expensive equipment.

Schwartz was handed the glass by Mr.Marajh and immediately threw the contents over the victim before hurling it at the DJ, causing a one and a half inch laceration above his right eye, which required stitches.

He was bailed until August 7 for a pre sentence report.

Teen Used Cloned Amex Card During Harrods Rolex Fraud

A teenager, who tried to con top people's store Harrods out of two expensive Rolex watches worth £13,850 with a bogus American Express card, has been bailed for sentencing.

Rian Merry, 19, (pictured) of Akeman Street, Arbury, Cambridge travelled to exclusive Knightsbridge to carry out the scam using a cloned card, but was detained in the department store by staff.

He pleaded guilty earlier this week at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to fraud by false representation on May 20, namely dishonestly tendering a fraudulent American Express card with intent to make a gain, namely two Rolex watches.

It is not the teen's first brush with the law having already clocked-up convictions for possession of class C drugs, an offensive weapon, trespass and arson, when £30,000 worth of damage was caused to a former old people's home in Histon Road, Arbury.

His solicitor Mr. John Leemey urged the court to order a pre-sentence report, saying: “The sum was quite high and no doubt you will want to know the background to Mr. Merry.”

Magistrate Mr. Andy Robinson bailed the defendant until August 19, telling him: “The court needs to know more about you.”

Obsessed Patient's Decade-Long Doctors Harassment Campaign

A disgruntled hospital patient, who waged a decade-long campaign of harassment against two respected doctors, which included death threats, has avoided prison with a suspended sentence.

Disabled Paul O'Callaghan, 37, of Granville Road, Eastbourne circulated leaflets calling for the “punishment”, “retribution” and “execution” of named medics, who he also secretly recorded and filmed during consultations.

“These are serious offences that were perpetrated over a lengthy period against two doctors who had the misfortune to have met you and tried to assist your progress and treatment,” district judge Mr. Nigel Dean told O'Callaghan at Bromley Magistrates' Court.

“The only factor that enables me not to send you to prison today is that you have an underlying health condition and for that reason I am prepared to suspend the sentence.”

O'Callahan, who receives disability living allowance for his chronic vestibular disorder, which effects his balance, received 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and must obey an electronically tagged night time curfew between 8pm and 6am for ten weeks.

He was also made subject to a five-year restraining order, which prohibits him from displaying any sign that could cause harassment or distress to NHS staff and was ordered to pay £300 costs at the rate of £10 per fortnight.

“You were making threats that they should be executed by death squads,” added Mr. Dean. “You knew you would cause distress and targeted a number of doctors, including these two doctors, and it did cause distress.”


O'Callaghan was convicted at Greenwich Magistrates' Court of two counts of harassment against Dr. Jennifer Quirke and Dr. David Golding-Wood between August 19, 2003 and November 20, last year.

The self-styled founder of the 'British Unicorn Party' was also convicted of two counts of communicating threatening messages between October 1, 2004 and November 20, last year and November 16 and 20, last year.

O'Callaghan had been receiving treatment at the Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington and circulated his leaflets throughout the London Borough of Bromley – the local authority the hospital is located in.

“You hold an obsession with the NHS, which is unreasonable and have circulated wholly distressing leaflets over a considerable period,” Mr. Dean told O'Callaghan. “This was a planned orchestrated episode by you.”

The defendant was not allowed to read a prepared statement and was ushered from the dock while telling the court it would explain: “Why the Crown Prosecution Service and magistrates need to be executed.”

It was not the first time O'Callaghan has issued death threats in court and when convicted in June he told the bench magistrates: “I'm going to have you executed. I am going to have the three of you killed when I seize control of this country.”

His defence to the charges were that the leaflets were merely British Unicorn Party political manifestos, even though some were titled: “Doctors of Evil”, “Fifteen Year Wait For Treatment” and “We Make Complete Cock-Ups On A Regular Basis.”

Leaflets were pushed through Dr. Quirke's front door and the letterboxes of other hospital staff, who told police they found them: “Extremely nasty, extremely malicious and extremely slanderous.”

They included images of Dr. Quirke the defendant had secretly recorded during appointments and included a series of claims against both doctors.

“I was a bit shocked at first and upset by what I saw in the leaflets and was concerned,” Dr. Quirke told the court from behind a screen during the trial. “In 2004 the police had spoken to him and I hoped there would be no further problems.”

Ear, Nose and Throat specialist Dr. Golding-Wood only saw O'Callaghan once ten years ago and referred him to the world-leading National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

“I received everything from a single sheet A4 document to thirty-two pages, some of which contained somewhat threatening and disparaging material,” he told the court, also from behind a screen.

“The author became more robust and used the words punishment, retribution and execution. I was extremely concerned and threatened.”

Prosecutor Miss Clare Carey told the court on Tuesday: “The two doctors formed the view that the defendant had become completely obsessed with the disorder and Dr. Golding-Wood found the literature threatening and distressing.

“Dr. Quirke said the defendant was extremely hostile during their meeting and leaflets saying that she should be executed were distributed all over the borough.”

The doctor also made a victim impact statement, explaining: “I was obviously targeted and letters were distributed at my place of work and through my front door.

“My life was threatened, he said that we should be killed. I felt extremely vulnerable in my home and was concerned that he knew where I lived.”

O'Callaghan, who sacked his trial lawyer, told the court: “Dr. Quirke's home being leafleted was an accident, I did not know she lived in the borough and these were political policy sheets, not leaflets.

“I did not intend to contact the doctors and I never did. I have no intention of going anywhere near them or going to the hospitals.”

O'Callaghan is now due to undergo surgery at Brighton Hospital in September.

Cocaine Dealer Tangoed & Smashed

A cocaine dealer, who hid eight wraps of the drug inside a fake can of Tango, has been locked-up for three years and four months.

Michael Ballard, 22, (pictured) of Baker Street, Enfield was caught by City Of London cops after a car he was travelling in with pals was pulled over.

When his north London home was searched more cocaine was found along with drug paraphernalia, plus evidence of dealing to a wide range of users via his mobile phone records.

The Old Bailey heard police stopped the vehicle on September 6, last year after an Automated Number Plate Recognition activation.

Officers searched the car and found a ‘dummy’ can of Tango hidden under the seat where Ballard had been sitting. 

Hidden inside the can were eight wrapped up Lotto slips, each containing cocaine. 

Police Constable Thomas Hayball said: “Ballard was responsible for dealing drugs to a lot of people, by removing him from the equation, further drug related crimes will be prevented. 

“His guilty plea and the sentenced passed at court reflects the strong evidence gathered by City of London Police and I am very pleased with the outcome.” 

Bankrupt Conman Jailed For £1.5M Film Finance Fraud

A bankrupt fraudster is starting a seven-year prison sentence for a £1.5m scam on a movie company, which believed he held the keys to unlocking millions in film financing.

Sencer Sevket, 54, (pictured) of St. Katherine's Dock, Wapping convinced Forrest Motion Pictures the loan would help secure £30m of future film funding from investors in the Far East.

However, he never intended to repay the £1.5m loan, which he promised would be honoured in sixty days and the promised funding never materialised either.

Sevket was convicted at the Old Bailey of fraud by false representation and possession of articles for use in fraud after an investigation by City of London Police.

In September 2009 Sevket, representing South Korean company KSI Ejder Korea Inc, agreed the £30 million private financing agreement with Forrest Motion Pictures.

However, in April 2010, prior to the film funding arrangements being finalised, Sevket requested the loan, promising the repayment obligation was backed by a major bank.

He was arrested during a police raid on his home in August, where officers seized 40 million euros worth of promissory notes along with details of his company and personal accounts held with four banks.

Detective Sergeant Rob Stirling said: “Sevket persuaded the film production company to hand him a massive loan by dangling the cherry of tens of millions of pounds of future funding. 

“He had no intention of paying this money back, spinning a web of deception in an attempt to keep him out of trouble.

“Thanks to the City of London Police investigation he is now in his rightful place, behind bars, with his seven year sentence sending out a strong warning to other people thinking of trying to pull a similar trick.”

Burglar Jailed For "Trail Of Destruction"

A heartless burglar, who left a “trail of destruction” in two City flats he ransacked in the search for thousands of pounds worth of valuables, has been locked-up.

Mark Tomas Goldsmith, 47, (pictured) helped himself to the occupants' laptops, jewellery and a camera during the Square Mile break-ins.

The Old Bailey heard Goldsmith was caught on CCTV burgling an address in Wormwood Street and as the investigation progressed it was obvious he also broke into a flat in Little Britain on May 28.

He was jailed for four-and-a-half years by a judge, who condemned his “trail of destruction caused by the havoc he wreaked.”

Detective Sergeant Mark Simmons of the City of London Police Burglary Squad said: “This sentencing provides reassurance to our residents in the Square Mile and will prevent Goldsmith from committing further burglaries in the City.” 

Childhood Pals Caught During £178K Cocaine Swoop By Gangbusting Cops

Three childhood friends, who turned to cocaine dealing and were caught with £178,000 worth of the drug during an undercover police operation, have been caged.

The trio splashed out on hiring luxury vehicles and  buying expensive jewellery and a five-star celebratory vacation, due to start the next day, was ruined by their capture.

Roofer Mark Boorman, 24, (pic.top) of Laurel Crescent, Romford and Toby Kallar, 26, (pic.mid.) of Airthrie Road, Ilford were convicted of conspiring to supply cocaine on or before July 19, last year and were each sentenced to seven years imprisonment. 

Daniel Skurr, 24, (pic.bottom) of Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch pleaded guilty to the charge, plus driving a VW van dangerously and while disqualified in Rush Green Road, Romford and received five years and four months.

Croydon Crown Court heard Boorman, despite having no obvious means of income, splurged on a Paris holiday and a £2,000 diamond engagement ring for his fiancé and Kallar had spent £6,000 on hiring flash cars, won £18,000 gambling and paid £6,000 cash for the planned two-week vacation.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency watched Little Gerpins Lane, Upminster, where Kallar was sitting in his parked Vauxhall Astra.

"It is a remote location. There is nothing there other than some bins, it is a quiet country lane," said prosecutor Miss Susana Stevens. 

The vehicle was followed to Suttons Avenue, Hornchurch, where Skurr got out and chatted to another man.

All three defendants returned to the Little Gerpins Lane location, Skurr now driving a van and Boorman his Mercedes.

They set off "in convoy" and were stopped by police several miles away.

"Skurr accelerated hard and mounted the pavement and there is a police chase," explained Miss Stevens. "Skurr abandoned the van and was stopped and arrested on foot."

In the van police found one kilo of cocaine of 89% purity.

"The police officers drew their batons and approached Kallar as if they were going to smash his windscreen and ordered him to get out of his car.

"Boorman also mounted the pavement and tried to follow Skurr, but the police were too quick.

"They hammered on the front passenger-side window and he stopped the car and was arrested," added Miss Stevens.

Officers then searched the defendants homes and recovered "cash and luxuries."

"These three defendants were involved in and had been for some time in the supply of drugs, with all three of them working together.

"They stood to make a substantial financial gain and must have been close to the source because of the extremely high purity of the cocaine.

"They funded their lifestyle through the supply of drugs for some time.'

Judge Nicholas Ainley told the trio: "When you were all arrested, you Boorman and Kallar did what the police wanted, but you Skurr drove off and tried to escape and you could have killed two police officers.

"They had to jump out of the way to avoid a collision and Skurr was driving while disqualified for a drink-drive offence.

"You were all recruited by someone higher up and you were entrusted with the transfer of a kilo of cocaine of eighty-nine per cent purity."

Skurr's lawyer Miss Karina Arden told the court: "He panicked, knowing what the situation was. That is the reason for the driving and the trying to get away.

"He is full of regret as to how he has let his family down enormously. He comes from a nice family."

Pub Glassing: Do You Know This Thug?

Police are hunting this late night thug, who hurled a glass at a pub customer – inflicting a nasty gash to the rear of the victim's head.

The suspect, who was riding a racer-style bike, approached two friends, aged 28 and 29, outside the Telegraph Pub, Telegraph Street, Moorgate at 11pm on June 14.

He flew into a rage after the men ignored his requests to use their phones and grabbed the 29 year-old around the throat and pushed him.

The assailant then picked up the glass and hurled it at the 28 year-old, causing the wound, and cycled off.

The suspect is described as a black man of medium build wearing a black peaked cap, a blue denim jacket with a light coloured shirt underneath and wore dark trousers.

Anyone with information should call the City of London Police on 020 7601 2222, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Assistant Boss Of Kids Centre Nicked Thousands

The assistant manager of a centre for children with learning difficulties, who defrauded thousands of pounds from the organisation, has escaped jail with a suspended sentence.

Beatrix Costa, 36, of Eleanor Court, Gillingham, Kent was employed by the Stockwell Community Resource Centre in south London.

The Studley Road centre runs weekly workshops for children with special needs, specifically targeting autism.

Costa was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court (pictured) to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years, was ordered to complete 240 hours community service work and obey a night time curfew for four months.

She originally appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court charged with three counts of fraud by abuse of position between April 1, 2009 and September 7, 2011 in relation to £10,264, £12,104 and £3,000.

Brutal Burglar Killed Ex-Model And Actress Who Once Starred Opposite Roger Moore

A burglar, who stamped a blind pensioner to death during a night time break-in at her west London home, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Daniel Barnett, 20, of Holly House, Brentford was convicted of murdering 77 year-old Jean Farrar – a former model and actress - and will be locked-up for a minimum of thirty-two years.

The Old Bailey heard police were called to grandmother Jean's home in nearby Brook Road South at 2.00am on October 25, last year after reports of a disturbance at the address.

Inside, Jean, who lived alone, was found with severe head injuries and was pronounced dead later the same day.

She had been slammed against her hallway wall and Barnett repeatedly stamped on her head and neck until she stopped screaming.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as blunt trauma to the head and throat. 


Barnett was arrested within minutes of the incident close to the murder scene. 



Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) said: "This was a horrendous attack on a vulnerable woman who lived alone.

“It was clear that Barnett targeted the address with a view to steal property. 



"Having disturbed Ms Farrar, he attacked her, inflicting dreadful injuries.

“This was a mindless, cowardly and unnecessarily cruel attack on an elderly lady in her own home." 


Her son, Jamie Farrar, said: “Our family's sense of pain and horror over losing my mother, Jean, in such a violent and brutal way is indescribable.

“Over the course of this trial we've heard the excruciating details of my mum's death, but we have heard almost nothing about her extraordinary life.

“Through this statement I hope to provide some small sense of who my mother was and how very much she was loved and what this vicious murder has done to our family.



“My mother led a fascinating life.

“After growing up during World War II in London, where she was unable to leave due to her father's job as a funeral director, Jean became a seamstress for the royal family (under Hardy Amies).

“She went on to be a model and actress, sharing the screen with Roger Moore in an episode of the TV show 'The Saint' and working as Hayley Mills' stand-in on numerous film projects.

“She ultimately became the devoted mother to my sister and me and the affectionate grandmother of three.

“She was passionate, funny, eccentric but above all loving. Jean loved life and would share this love with all those she talked to.


“Although my mum was well into her late seventies and clinically blind with only partial sight at the time of her murder, she was unquestionably still enjoying life.

“She loved going to films as well as the theatre and she continued to be a member of film and art discussion groups.

“She took great joy in attending all of her eldest granddaughter's dancing and singing performances.

“My mother continued to meet her friends on a daily basis at a local café in Brentford, sharing meals with them as well as laughter and stories.

“She did all this despite the need to walk slowly and steady herself as she moved.

“She was truly a great exponent of living life to your fullest despite your own limitations.



“The impact of my mother's murder on our family has been immeasurable.

“No one can be prepared to lose their mother or grandmother in such a violent way.

“The memories that we shared with her will never be built upon.

“The plans that we had made together with her will never come true.

“The small events that are just part of everyday life: the phone calls, the chats over tea, all lost because of another person's selfish actions.

“All of this has been taken away from us by a person who doesn't even know us.

“A person who has shown himself to not care about anyone but himself.



“My mother never met her two youngest grandchildren; my two year old twins who I live with in the United States. who she was due to meet just a few weeks after she was murdered.

“They knew their Granny Jeannie from chats on Skype and cards and presents that she would send, but they will never meet her in person and know of the love and joy that she would have brought into their lives. 



“My sister loved caring for our mum and being able to give back to her just some of the care and support that she had herself received as a child.

“My Mum was my sister's birthing partner, and had helped with the child care of her beloved eldest granddaughter.

“The three of them shared a bond that was so close that they seemed more like sisters than like women separated by three generations.



“Daniel Barnett did not need to enter my mother's house that night. He chose to.

“Upon finding my mum at home, he easily could have left.

“Instead he chose to beat her and throw her against the wall and when she screamed in pain, he chose to kick her, stamp on her, and jump on her head until she was unable to scream anymore.



“As my mother lay dying alone in her hallway, he left her and attempted to make his own escape to freedom and presumably a return to normal life with his family. 



“The attack that Daniel Barnett carried out on my mum was barbaric, and he has not displayed any signs of remorse or taken any responsibility since.

“Instead he has made the situation even more agonizing by dragging us through eight months of waiting for this trial to start and the trial itself, where we have heard the horrific details of my mother's last moments of life.

“Daniel Barnett has proven himself to be a coward of the worst kind. He attacked a frail, clinically blind, vulnerable seventy-seven year old woman in her own home.

“A woman who had no chance of defending herself. He showed her no mercy. He showed her no compassion. 



“Instead of accepting responsibility, he has repeatedly lied and changed his story.

“But in destroying our family, he has also destroyed his own and forced them to one day come to terms with his actions, his lies and his absence from their lives.

“He has shown himself to be a father role-model of the worst kind, abandoning his own daughter's life in order to take the life of another person. 



“And now we have to carry on. but nothing is as it was.

“When we are home at night and hear a sudden, even innocent noise, we feel a fleeting fear and our hearts break again because we know that my mum's fleeting fear became real - a fear in which she lived her last conscious moments.

“A fear that through Daniel Barnett's actions would ultimately take her life.

“It is this that we find most difficult to bear - that my mum, the kindest and most gentle person we ever knew, felt fear and pain in her last moments of life all because of the actions of Daniel Barnett.



“We can only hope that in her dying moments she was comforted by the immense love we had for her and all of the moments that she gave us.

“We were not even offered the dignity of a peaceful good-bye as her body was so brutally mutilated we were unable to see her be laid out to rest. 



“Words do not do justice to the impact that Daniel Barnett's actions have had on our family. The pain, the emptiness and the guilt that we live with every day is something that can only be felt, not described.

“No time feels like it would be long enough for us to accept his actions. Most of all we are heartbroken that we have lost such a special person in our lives. A person that was always such a major source of strength and love for us all.”

Champion Rower Cleared Of Landing Flurry Of Blows On High-Flying Commercial Lawyer

Cleared: Sean Corrigall (L) Edward Dyson (R)

A champion rower was cleared yesterday of repeatedly punching a successful Canary Wharf lawyer, who denied exaggerating the incident to cash-in with a personal injury claim.

Six-foot eight inches tall Orkney Isles-native Sean Corrigall, 23, was accused of landing a flurry of blows on solicitor Edward Dyson, 28, an associate and commercial law specialist with Clifford Chance - one of the largest firm's in the world with annual revenues of £1.3 billion.

Corrigall, of Warehams Farm, Sutton Green Road, Sutton Green, Guildford - who rows with the prestigious Molesey club - was found not guilty of assaulting Mr. Dyson on March 31 at Mayfair's Mahiki.

Bench chairman Mr. Don Kennedy announced at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court: "The photographs of Mr. Dyson taken at the time do not support and are not consistent with the alleged ferocity of the attack.

"The main issue for us is the incident that happened between you and Mr. Dyson on the edge of the dance floor," the magistrate told Corrigall. "You agreed you should not have approached Mr. Dyson and we agree this was a severe error of judgement."

That confrontation ended up with both men falling to the floor with Mr. Dyson in a headlock, but Mr. Kennedy ruled: "We find the headlock was a defensive action."

Afterwards a happy Corrigall said: "I'm competing this weekend and training hard. This is a good result."

He paid privately for his solicitor and defence barrister and will now be compensated out of central funds following the acquittal.

During the day-long trial Mr. Dyson told the court: "Out of nowhere a large gentleman crept around the side of the dance floor and took a swing at me and I took a blow to my left ear.

"It was with a fist, a punch. It clipped my jaw and hit my ear and he then went for my head and clipped my the right side of my jaw with a right-hand uppercut.

"I was hit four times, including the back of my neck and to the lower torso. If I had been hit in the teeth or nose I would have broken teeth and a broken nose.

"After the punches had been landed I was put in a headlock by the male and went down."

He claims to have suffered a whiplash-type injury and insists the blows have worsened his pre-existing tinnitus - a ringing in the ears he has endured since being punched in a separate club incident eight years ago.

"It's worse than it ever was," Durham University graduate Mr. Dyson told the court. "It is just so loud now, like alarm bells and car horns constantly.

"There is no treatment for tinnitus. I have seen an esteemed consultant, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do.

"I have these noises, noises that are deafening and I cannot sleep again."

Coupled with his fourteen to sixteen hour workdays and insomnia Mr. Dyson told the court the assault has had a large impact on his quality of life.

However, Corrigall's barrister Mr. Michael Stradling suggested: "Is this not a precursor to a personal injury claim? It is all part and parcel of you trying to make a claim and show yourself as the victim and not the aggressor.

"You were aggressive for whatever reason, either through too much alcohol or some sort of substance abuse. You were recklessly aggressive and made violent attempts to butt Mr. Corrigall.

"You went a little bit too far and you realised that and that is why you went to every effort to call the police to save your position, your status."

Mr. Dyson denied he was "arrogant and aggressive" adding: "This is a slight on my character. I have never taken any illegal substance and would never do so, my career is too important.

"In my life, my role, I have to be whiter than white."  

Trouble began at 1am when Mr. Dyson - who had consumed red wine and vodka that night - claims Corrigall and his three friends refused to budge on the club's landing as he tried to make his way to the toilet.

"I was walking to the bathroom and there is a landing where four gentlemen were standing and I said: 'Excuse me. Can I get through?'

For whatever reason, maybe they had been drinking they started remonstrating and they were all tall, six-foot plus men and they would not move and I forced myself to get around them. 

"They laughed at me, it was childish, nonsensical. They said something about my mother and I said: 'Don't be so childish' and laughed at them.

"I went to the urinal and moments later someone threw a drink on my back."

Corrigall told the court Mr. Dyson barged into his group aggressively and reacted angrily when the defendant suggested he should have simply asked: "Excuse me."

"He came towards me quite aggressively and attempted to bite me on the nose. I had to move back, quite dumbfounded, and he then tried to do it a second time.

"It was like a dog snapping, you could hear his teeth and one of my friends said he seemed highly intoxicated through drugs."

Corrigall and a pal went to the toilet, where he says Mr. Dyson deliberately barged into them, spilling the drink his friend was holding over all three of them.

"He said: 'You don't know who you're f***ing messing with. I own half of this nightclub and I'm going to get you c**** banned for life."

Mr. Dyson complained to a club bouncer and Corrigall's friend was removed, prompting the defendant to seek him out on the dance floor, where he says the lawyer assaulted him.

"He struck me on my head with his head and then he lunged towards me with his head and struck the bottom of my cheek and I felt I had to restrain him with a headlock."

The pair fell to the floor and Corrigall, who had consumed one cider and one beer during his first ever visit to a nightclub, told the court Mr. Dyson said: "I am going to sue you for everything you're worth."

Mr. Dyson conceded from the witness box: "If you assault a solicitor it is not the best idea, because I will call the police."

Staff were unwilling to call 999, but Mr. Dyson, who staff pinned to the wall at one point, did and officers arrested Corrigall outside after he was wrestled to the floor.

Corrigall won has won four golds at the last two Scottish Indoor Rowing championships, where he broke his own national record last year, and won two golds at the Metropolitan and the Marlow Regatta and the gold cup for the 2,000 metres at the Henley Town Regatta.