'Fling' Playboy Avoids Jail For Drunken Attack On Fiance

Life's A Beach: Marco & Toni

A privately-educated playboy, whose £17m photo messaging app Fling collapsed earlier this year, has received a suspended prison sentence for drunkenly attacking his fiancé at their luxury Thames side apartment. 

Marco Nardone, 29, the son of a millionaire wine merchant, dragged his partner of two years Toni Allcock by her hair and slapped, throttled and kicked her in the stomach at the £2m flat.

Nardone, who was educated at £36,000- year Charterhouse, and is a physics graduate of Imperial College London was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months.

“As the author of the probation report says this was a really serious offence. It was vicious, spiteful and sustained and very shocking actually,” Westminster Magistrate Ms Amanda Barron told him. 

Nardone pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Allcock at the apartment in

Distillery Wharf, Regatta Lane, Hammersmith on December 12, last year.

He was also ordered to complete forty sessions of a Building Better Relationships Programme and twenty days of a probation-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement. 

Prosecutor Miss Katie Bryan told the court: “The victim and the defendant were partners residing together. They had been in a relationship two years and have no children.

“She says that six months into the relationship there were some difficulties.”

Tension built over Nardone exchanging WhatsApp messages with an ex-girlfriend he was allowing to stay at the apartment when Ms Allcock was away.

Court Date: Nardone

“She was in bed at 2.30am and had a dispute with the defendant about a WhatsApp message.”

Nardone had been out late that night enjoying dinner with dad Remo, 81, owner of Enotria Winecellars and returned home drunk.

“She said he returned later and had been drinking and she went down to the kitchen to make a hot chocolate drink.

“The defendant followed her down and blocked her from leaving the kitchen and took out his phone and tried to film her and then put his two hands around her neck.

“He slapped her across the face and she describes ear ringing due to the impact and decided to leave the property.”

Throughout the assault she was shouting: “Leave me alone.” 

“She left the door ajar, but the defendant locked the door and she is screaming and banging on the door, asking to be let back in.

“Mr. Nardone opened the door and said: ‘Get your stuff’ but she did not go in because she thought the defendant was trying to lure her in.”

Ms Alcock then tried to raise the alarm with the building’s 24-hour concierge, but Nardone blocked her from ringing the bell with his hand.

“She then made a run for the lift and the defendant followed her and dragged her back by her hair.

“She managed to get away and call the lift and the defendant followed her back and to use her words: ‘booted her in the stomach.’

“She then describes taking the lift down and running across the lobby to get help.”

Her ordeal lasted approximately twenty minutes and it was not the first time police had been called to a row between the pair.

There was another incident earlier last year. “There was a fall-out in the property,” explained Ms Bryan. “A neighbour describes screams from the balcony and they called the police.” 

Fortunately the lift’s CCTV captured the moment Nardone kicked Ms Allcock in the stomach, but this was not played in court.

Ms Barron added: “We put this in the highest category of common assault, Category One. It was a sustained attack and there were four parts to it.

“You grabbed her around the throat, slapped her around the face, causing her ear ringing and kicked her in the stomach, having previously pulled her by the hair.

“She tried to escape, but you kept going and it is aggravated by you being very drunk that night and she was in her home and tried to leave. It must have been awful for her.

“This is a pattern of behaviour and in the report she says you have slapped her in the past and grabbed her around the throat in the past. We are very concerned about her.

“We have thought very hard about sending you to prison today.

“It is important you have specific domestic abuse counselling so you don’t do this again.

“It says in the report you are hot a heavy drinker and don’t use drugs, but you were obviously out of control due to the alcohol.”

The magistrates indicated why they did not immediately jail Nardone. “There were no long-term injuries and you have shown some remorse.

“You have to turn up to all the sessions. I know you are trying to run a business, but this comes first, there are no excuses.

“This really is hanging over you, but it is allowing you to get on with your life and improve your relationship,” added Ms Barron.

Nardone must also pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge within seven days. No compensation order was made in favour of Ms Allcock. 

His lawyer Mr. Martin Lewis handed the court a letter from Nardone’s therapist at the Sloane Court Centre. 

“The defendant has gone to seek counselling and Ms Allcock wants to join in on those counselling sessions.

“This is a couple who hope to remain together for a long, long time. They are engaged, they work together, they are business partners, they are together twenty-four hours a day.

“They are two very highly ambitious people, who wish to stay together. Since being caught he’s grown up and realises this has to be addressed.”

Mr. Lewis has viewed the phone footage shot by Nardone. “We can see Miss Allcock is in quite a high state because he was late coming home from dinner with his father.

“There is evidence of her shouting at the defendant and calling him a liar and the defendant can be heard saying: ‘please calm down’ not in a harsh voice, but a soft voice.

“She is shouting loudly and it is a residential block of flats and the row spills into the common parts.”  

Nardone’s app Fling - which allowed users to send photos to random people - was effectively hijacked by sexting and never made a penny.

He was backed by his father, who reportedly gave him £1.5m when aged 23 to develop the app.

Nardone was the chief executive of Fling, which at its height claimed to have four million users , who sent fifty million messages.

However, while the app struggled to turn a profit for investors, estimated to have ploughed in £17m, Nardone featured his party lifestyle on his Instagram account, which included holidays in Ibiza, fine dining at Michelin-starred restaurants and relaxing at the riverside apartment.

The company is believed to be in administration, owing twitter £120,000; Google over £45,000 and £95,000 to the taxman.

Nardone was employed for a year as a trader at Credit Suisse after leaving university before launching his own business.

However, Fling was never in profit and was criticised as a forum for men to harass women with explicit nude photographs.

Despite this Nardone started a new music company called Gig FM, boasting on facebook to have created ‘the world’s first proper Music live streaming app.’ 

Footballer Jailed For Nightclub KO Punch

Clack Attack: 27 Months

Chichester City FC star Josh Clack was jailed for twenty-seven months for a devastating KO punch outside a nightclub on a lone passer-by picked-on by his pals.

The 24 year-old winger’s young victim suffered bleeding on the brain, plus two facial factors and spent ten days in hospital.

“You are fortunate that you did not kill him,” Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Judge Stephen John told Clack. “If you had it would at least have been a charge of manslaughter.” 

Semi-pro Clack, of Oakwood Close, Midhurst, West Sussex was convicted after a week-long trial of inflicting grievous bodily harm on 20 year-old Kieran Smithers.

Ironically one of his last tweets a week ago read: “Waking up on a Sunday and knowing you’re in the last 16 of the FA Vase is lovely!”

He will now be behind bars when that fixture, away to Cheshire’s 1874 Northwick FC, kicks off on February 3 and he will miss the remainder of his club’s Southern Combination Premier Division season.

The jury returned an 11-1 majority verdict that Clack was not defending himself when he struck the blow just after 3am outside Guildford’s Casino nightclub on October 18, 2015.

The delay in coming to trial has weighed heavily on Clack, said his lawyer, but Judge John told the footballer: “It is your fault it has taken this long to sentence you.

“You were the aggressor and it is aggravated by the fact that at no stage have you expressed any remorse for this offence.”

Clack had already consumed a beer, two vodkas and two other drinks during a night out with a group of pals, one of whom playfully startled Mr. Smithers.

Smithers: Bleeding On Brain

The complainant pushed back in surprise and was backed-up by two concerned off-duty soldiers as the incident escalated. 

“In the second incident the prosecution say Josh Clack deliberately punched Kieran Smithers in the face or head, causing really serious harm,” said prosecutor Mr. John Coates.

“This defendant deliberately punches him in the face, but that is not caught on CCTV. He squared up to get in Kieran Smithers’ face and was swinging for him and that punch knocked him out.

“Kieran Smithers fell to the ground like a tree. He was out cold and fell backward and hit the back of his head on the concrete. 

“This defendant then walked off across the bridge and disappeared.

“He had a fracture above his left eye and a fracture of his nasal bone and a blood-filled swelling to the back of his head.”

Clack fractured his hand delivering the punch and it was still in a cast when he was questioned by police.

Banged Up: Clack

Clack hid the truth from medical staff at Chichester’s St. Richard’s Hospital, claiming that he suffered the injury when punching a wall.

He told officers. “I said I punched a wall. I did not want to look bad, I know a lot of people in Chichester, I play football for Chichester.”

Mr. Smithers recalls nothing of the incident, but the court heard he has been on anti-depressants since the assault and has had trouble sleeping.

“The aggravating features of this case outweigh the mitigating factors,” added Judge John. “The offence is so serious any sentence cannot be suspended.”

A large number of family and friends were in court to support Clack, who signed-off his season with a pair of goals in Chichester’s 4-0 league away win at Hassocks.

“You and your family must know this is a very serious offence,” the judge told him.

During the trial Clack told the jury he is not a violent person or a heavy drinker, yet has a police caution for assault and a drink-drive conviction.

“I might have been hurt myself. I did not think I had any other options,” he claimed. “He pushed me in the chest with both hands and I punched him as soon as he put his hands on me.

“I was trying to protect myself and just did what I thought was necessary at the time. It was a split-second decision in an instant.”

Local Troublemaker Flouts Booze Ban And Starts 21 Month Sentence

A notorious drunken thug, banned from every licensed premises in two London boroughs, is starting a twenty-one month prison sentence after miserably failing to obey the disqualification.

Fletcher Stallard, 24, who has sixty-eight previous convictions and is infamous in the boroughs of Merton and Sutton, where the ban still exists for nearly three more years, smirked as the court detailed his incidents of foul-mouthed anti-social behaviour.

In August last year Merton Police successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order, (CBO) banning him from the pubs, clubs, bars and off-licenses of the two boroughs, plus a prohibition on buying alcohol in supermarkets.

It also includes a ban on putting people in fear of violence and drinking alcohol in public.

He appeared at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court via videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs where Judge Stephen John told him: "This is a staggering amount of offences for someone of your age."

Stallard was sentenced for breaching the Criminal Behaviour Order and a suspended prison sentence.

One offence was committed on a nightbus, which he boarded without paying, before missing his stop near Morden Station.

This triggered more anti-social behaviour, breaching the CBO and the court heard he shouted at the driver: "Stop the bus you f***ing bitch."

The account drew grins from Stallard on the videolink and Judge John told the repeat offender: "I see that is causing you some amusement. I assure you it doesn't cause me any."

Stallard was also caught stealing a bottle of vodka from a local supermarket, claiming it was under duress as he owed £2,000 to a loan shark and was obeying his orders.

"I didn't come down with the last shower," said the judge, dismissing the account. "It is manifestly implausible and false.

"You have a bad record for violence and public order offences and the bus incident is aggravated because it was at night and the driver was restricted in the cab."

The court heard Stalled has repeatedly flouted Anti-Social Behaviour Orders; curfews; community orders; conditional discharges and suspended prison sentences.

"This is repeat offending, there are a history of breaches. It is time, with your dreadful record, you served a custodial sentence."

Golders Green Hebrew Scribe Sentenced For Pocketing Housing Benefit

The owner of a landmark Orthodox Jewish business, whch specialises in traditional Hebrew caligraphy, has been sentenced for pocketing housing benefit payments from his local council.

Bernard Benarroch, 53, boss of GoldersGreen store SoferStam was intially charged with dishonestly receiving approximately £52,937, but this was reduced to the lesser allegation of simply failing to notify a change in his circumstances.


He initially appeared at Hendon Magistrates Court charged with failing between April 1, 2009 and July 20, 2014 to inform the London Borough of Barnet of the change, namely that his wife was in employment and earning a wage.

Benarroch pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court and was sentenced on the day after an interview with the Probation Service, who compiled a pre-sentence report.

He received a twelve-month community order, which includes 200 hours community service work and was ordered to pay £1,200 costs.

Student's Girlfriend Fell To Her Death After Assault And Sex Pic Share

Court Date: Alessio Bianchi

A masters degree student, who shared sexually-explicit images of his girlfriend and attacked her at his flat, may hear her evidence from beyond the grave after she fell to her death.

Alessio Bianchi, 26, claims he battled to save the life of Damilya Jossipaliyena on his eighth-floor balcony on the day of the assault and she sadly took her life shortly afterwards, a court heard.

The Italian pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Jossipaliyena on June 2, last year at his home in, Sunken Beck Building, 5 Hermitage Street, Central London.

Bianchi, who studies at Regent’s College also admitted disclosing private sexual images of her without consent, with intent to cause her distress on May 25.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told Westminster Magistrates Court: “In terms of the assault the Crown’s case is the assaulted started upstairs in the flat between the defendant and the complainant.

“He grabbed hold of her throat and hit her on top of the head and punched her several times.

“He says he was trying to stop her jumping out of the window.”

The struggle continued in a downstairs courtyard. “It is alleged by the Crown he grabbed hold of the complainant and pulled her into a fountain in the building and shoved her head onto a chair.

“He accepts there was a struggle downstairs and she ended up in the water.

“The complainant in this case sadly committed suicide not long after this assault allegation.”

Bianchi’s lawyer Mr. Steven Powles said: “The defendant’s position is inside the flat the complainant was attempting to jump off the eighth floor of the balcony.

“This was not the first time time she attempted to take her life. Outside she was attempting to re-enter and in the course of that is how she ended up in the water.

“In her own statement she says there was pushing into the water. She did not mention slamming into the chair.”

Because his account differs the court ordered a Newton Hearing at Hendon Magistrates Court on February 26 to determine the truth and the CPS will apply for Miss Jossipaliyena’s statement to be read.

Bench Chairman Mr. Richard Duncalf announced: “Having discussed this matter at some length the bench have decided there will be a Newton Hearing because there is some difference in the account of the defendant.” 

They will also rely on CCTV and the evidence of the night porter.

Drunken Woman Slapped Girlfriend During Pre-NY's Eve Night Out

Westminster Magistrates Court

A Romford woman slapped her girlfriend after a McDonald’s row during drunken pre-New Year’s Eve celebrations in London’ s West End.

Imogen Welsford, 23, of London Road, a supervisor at Romford Ice Arena, had previous violent domestic disputes with her partner and must now complete court-ordered rehab.

She pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court to assaulting Rachel Valderama in the early hours of January 31, last year in The Strand.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told the court: “They are in a same-sex relationship and had been out at a nightclub in central London.

“At 1am they went into a McDonald’s and had a dispute with the staff over a lost purse.

“They went outside and got into an argument and a bystander saw her slap Ms Valderama around the face and they stepped in for her safety.

“The bystander said she was still aggressive to everyone and alcohol may have played a part.”

Police arrested Welsford and she was questioned. “She said they were drinking and got into an argument, but she couldn’t remember what happened because she was so drunk.”

She was previously convicted of assaulting Ms Valderama in Kent. “This was a previous incident of domestic abuse. There have been incidents between the two of them.

“Ms Valderama did not support this prosecution today and it has proceeded on the evidence of the bystander.”

In October, 2016 there was another violent incident. “A witness rang the police to say she saw the defendant, wearing just her dressing-gown, beating another woman,” explained Mr. Cohen.

“Ms Valderama opened the front door to police and she was covered in blood and had scratches and gouges to her face.”

The court heard the pre-NY Eve night out was a tradition amongst the couple and their friends and Welsford concedes she had far too much to drink.

She believed her purse had been taken in McDonald’s and was demanding the staff check CCTV when taken outside by her girlfriend.

Welsford admits slapping her, describing her behaviour as “unacceptable.”

The pair live together at Welsford’s mother’s home and have been a couple for two years.

She received a community order, which includes a twenty-five day rehabilitation requirement, and was fined £115.

Welsford must also pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Dumped Dad-Of-Two Stalked Ex At Harvey Nichols

Happier Times: Fernando & Angelica 

A Colombian father-of-two, struggling to accept the end of a thirty-year relationship, stalked his ex at her Harvey Nichols workplace and allegedly assaulted her.

Fernando Carmona, 49, a Westgate area manager, turned up at the exclusive Knightsbridge department store in an “aggressive” manner, demanding to see her.

He also made threatening calls, vowing to kill his ex’s new boyfriend.

He pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court on Tuesday to stalking Angelica Montealegre between January 12 and 15.

However, Carmona, of Quinton House, Wyvil Road, Vauxhall denied assaulting her at Pollard House, Northdown Street, Islington on January 13.

He was bailed to stand trial on that charge at Hendon Magistrates Court on February 19.

Prosecutor Mr. Edward Cohen told the court, where Carmona appeared in custody: “This is a domestic incident involving a couple whose thirty-year relationship is coming to and end.

“The defendant is not able to move on from that and there are issues that are getting worse by the day.

“He has pleaded guilty to sending abusive voicemails to the victim. They were of a threatening nature, saying that he would kill her new partner.

“This new parter has been a real turning point.

“He turned up at Harvey Nichols demanding to speak to her in an aggressive way.

“He threw a telephone at the complainant after she disclosed she had a new partner.”

Carmona denies throwing the phone.

He was described as “very emotional” when questioned by police. “He was not in a calm manner and was in an agitated state,” explained Mr. Cohen.

Kingston University Chief Violently Attacked On Campus

Attacked: Therese Reinheimer-Jones

A head of department at Kingston University was violently attacked on the campus by a mentally-deranged student.

Head of Student Engagement and Enhancement Therese Reinheimer-Jones curled herself up in a ball as she was kicked and punched by 25 year-old Benjamin Kalo.

He was convicted of assaulting her at the Penrhyn Road building on March 2, last year and sentenced to a Mental Health Hospital Order.

She told Wimbledon Magistrates Court during the trial: “My forehead was punched. I banged my head on the large confidential waste bin and then felt a kick to my back. I was in the foetal position.

I saw one of my colleagues and and just grabbed her, hugged her in fear.

“I had bruising to my face and ears, a large bump to the back of my head. I had concussion and was in A & E for several hours.

“I had a bruise on my side, where I was kicked and felt very frightened for several weeks.”

Kalo was arrested a week later at Chinese fast-food restaurant Hotcha in Downend Road, Kingswood, Bristol on March 9.

Officers found him armed with a large kitchen knife and he also had 1.8g cannabis on him.

Entrepreneurial Ex-Public Schoolboy Banned From Ex After Assault

Aubrey & Justin

The girlfriend of an Old Harrovian said: “I thought I was going to die,” when smothered with a bedcover during a violent row at her Marylebone home.

Justin Beckett, 32, an old boy of the £38,000-a year public school also pushed Aubrey Fernandez down stairs and banged her head against a wall.

Beckett, who describes himself on his business profile as a “seasoned entrepreneur,” pleaded guilty to assaulting her at the Devonshire Street address on December 9, last year.

He is the co-founder of JAV Digital Solutions Ltd and founder of Just B Digital, which advises on software and technology.

Westminster Magistrates Court made an indefinite restraining order, prohibiting Beckett contacting Aubrey or visiting her home.

Her property doubles as the address for SpecialEyes, Aubrey’s eyelash extension business, for which she charges up to £90.00 per fitting.

She previously studied hospitality and tourism at Harrow International Business School.

Beckett, who lives at a £1.6m flat at nearby 4 Nottingham Street was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge. 

Prosecutor Mr. Jonathan Bryan told the court: “The defendant placed the bedcover over her head and she felt she could not breathe.

“She said: ‘I thought I was going to die,’ and he would not let her out of the flat.

“He grabbed her again and pushed her back and she banged her head against the wall and then pushed her down the stairs.

“It was a sustained serious incident and there are previous unreported incidents she refers to, but there were no reports to the police at the time.”

Barber Shop Murder: Record Label Boss Stabbed Through Heart

Murderer: Anthony Allen

A barber shop customer stabbed a record label boss chasing a debt through the heart when a violent brawl broke out between the pair.

Anthony Allen, 34, of Tillet Close, Harlesden had a knife in his pocket when Crispin Siddon, 34, walked into Cutz Barbers in nearby Craven Park Road.

Siddon – known as DJ Skeng – and the co-owner of GB Records punched Allen in the face, demanding: “Where's my money?”

He was armed with an afro comb, but CCTV pictures in the busy shop showed Allen responding with five jabbing motions while holding what he claimed was a common Swiss Army knife.

He was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of murder and will be sentenced on January 19.

It was the second trial after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year when Allen claimed he was acting in self-defence.

An investigation was launched following the stabbing on Friday, May 5, 2017, by the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

During the fight, Crispin sustained several stab wounds to his body and critically one stab wound to the heart.

He was taken to Central Middlesex Hospital, but was sadly pronounced dead at 3.20pm.

Allen was arrested on Monday, May 8 and charged with murder the following day.Detective Inspector Simon Stancombe said: "On the fifth of May, last year Anthony Allen decided to secrete a knife in his jeans before going out for the day.

“He was not to know that a few hours later he would be involved in a fight with another man, Crispin Siddon.

DJ Skeng - Crispin Siddon

“Allen used that knife to stab Mr. Siddon through his heart, ending his life.

"Mr Siddon was a loving son, brother, father and husband. His family are left mourning his death and wondering how someone could carry a knife so casually and use it in such a callous way."Crispin’s sister Keshia Siddon, said: "I feel as though as piece of me is missing.

“From when I was a baby, my brother looked after me and expressed how much he loved his little sister.

“When our younger sister came along we were both overjoyed. All he wanted was the best for us and for us to make everyone proud.

"When our nephews came along he would always say he wants his sons to do well in education just like his sisters.

"Whenever we were together or on the phone he would say: ‘I love you sis’ and spoke about how he couldn’t wait to see me graduate.

“The last time I was with him the last thing he said to me was: ‘I love you sis, I got you’. This will stay with me forever.

"Words cannot describe how much we miss him."

Maxine Siddon, Crispin’s mother, said: "Crispin encouraged his sisters to work hard and do well in their studies and do better than himself.

“He was a generous person who would always try to help others and could always put a smile on your face if you felt down."

Teen Stabbed His Mother 23 Times

A teen stabbed his mother twenty-three times when cannabis use triggered a violent psychotic episode.

Jamil Jabbie, 19, of Hereford Retreat, Peckham repeatedly plunged the blade into the 51 year-old victim at the address.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm, with intent, on May 17, last year and will be sentenced on January 17.

Police and emergency medical services were called just after 7.19pm to reports of a woman suffering multiple stab injuries.

The victim was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but fortunately survived the ferocious attack.

Jabbie had fled the scene, but was later arrested at an address in Lewisham and charged the next day.

He was originally charged with attempted murder, but a GBH plea was accepted.

Jabbie will remain in custody.

Suspected Bus Pervert Wanted For Allegedly Groping 12 Year-Old Girl

Police are hunting this suspected pervert, who they believe groped a young schoolgirl on a crowded early-morning bus.

Parminder Thindh, 36, is wanted for an allegation of sexual assault against a 12 year-old schoolgirl on an east London bus on July 7, last year.

The schoolgirl boarded a route 101 bus from Manor Park at 8.15am and remained standing.

The suspect boarded the bus near Ruskin Avenue and stood next to the girl.

As the bus became more crowded, he allegedly began to touch her without looking at her.

The victim hoped he would stop touching her, but when he didn't, she got off the bus a stop early and had to push his hand away as she did so.

Thindh is described as 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build.

Detective Constable Lee Warrington, from Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: "We would like to talk to the man pictured about this sexual assault which left the young victim extremely distressed.

“Sexual assaults are totally unforgivable and we will always investigate these types of offences thoroughly.

“If you know how we can reach Mr Thindh, we would like to hear from you."

If you recognise the man pictured, please contact the police on 101 or via Twitter @MetCC.

Alternatively, call Cirmestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Scottish Entrepreneur's £125K Headbutt

Headbutt: Mark Emlick

A wealthy Scottish businessman head butted a one-time colleague and friend in a Michelin-starred restaurant  - leaving the victim spitting blood - after a deal left him £125,000 out of pocket.

Mark Emlick, 55, Chairman of Edinburgh based specialist real estate and asset management company Consensus Capital Group plc, based in Craigmillar Park reacted to being told: “Jog on for your money,” the court was told yesterday.

Emlick, who lives in a £3 million townhouse in Cotswold Mews, Battersea, located across the Thames river from Chelsea Harbour was placed on a twelve-month community order and must complete 80 hours community service work.

He pleaded guilty that on October 17, last year he assaulted Marcus Watson at Nordic-themed Aquavit restaurant at St. James’s Market, Carlton Street, near Piccadilly Circus.

Westminster Magistrates Court was told Emlick, who once appeared on Sky TV’s ‘Who’d Be A Billionaire?’ show enjoying a £9,000-a day Botswana safari had downed four gin and tonics.

He had invested £250,000 in a business venture with neighbour Mr. Watson, a friend of twenty years and professional associate for seven years, but lost half the money when the company folded.

His lawyer Mr. Andrew Copeland said CCTV captured the assault as the men chatted at the restaurant bar. “You can see the head going to the face, the nose area.

“The explanation is his loss of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds and being told to: 'Jog on for your money,' is what provoked him.

Off His Brolly: Mark Emlick

"They are at the bar and there is a conversation for a minute and a half. Something must have been said by Mr. Watson for the defendant to react the way he did, which was purely momentary.

“It is somebody he knows, a friend who he feels has exploited this situation and the company’s been wound up and he knows he is not going to get the money.”

Magistrate Joanna Barley told bespectacled Emlick: “It was a short incident and it was a single blow. However it did happen in a public place and alcohol was involved.

“It was a headbutt, a very serious way of hurting someone,” she added also ordering him to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Miss Aislin Rice said it was 9pm and the pair had been enjoying a polite conversation that turned ugly with insults from Emlick.

“He asked if he was a pussy and had a vagina. He head butted him to the left side of his face, causing a laceration to the inside of the mouth.”

Mr. Watson, who had holidayed with Emlick and their partners, told police. “He head butted me to the left side. Following the headbutt I had cuts and abrasions and bleeding from my teeth cutting the inside of my mouth.”

Bloody: Marcus Watson

He was taken to the A&E department of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and added: “I’m struggling to understand and I have been anxious about going out after the attack.

“He lives in the same road, we are near the same shops and I’ve lost my confidence.

“My family see that I am anxious and I’m concerned about bumping into him. He has meetings in the area and I’m embarrassed about being attacked and not being able to defend myself.”

Miss Rice added: “His ability to interact with clients has been effected and he was subdued in his first week back in his office and colleagues noticed that.”

Initially Emlick tried to lie his way out of trouble telling police: “I turned my head to talk to Mark. I did not realise how close he was. It was not deliberate, it was accidental.”

Mr. Copeland told the court: “One of these deals unfortunately went sour, this defendant had invested two-hundred and fifty thousand in Mr. Watson’s business.

“It did not turn out to be what he hoped it was and Mr. Watson elevated his salary and bought himself a new Range Rover.

“He specifically moved to Battersea to be near his friend Mr. Watson.

“If it was more serious it would have been charged as an actual bodily harm.

“There is some history to this matter. They would go on holiday together as a foursome, they know each other extremely well.”

Emlick’s girlfriend Nicki Murray was in court and she was also at the restaurant when the two men met face-to-face for the first time in eighteen months, describing Mr. Watson as “rude and goading,” towards the defendant.

Mr. Copeland said the men stepped outside for a chat, out of earshot of others to ease the tension and the assault occurred when they returned inside.

“It is a sparsely-populated restaurant and not even the person behind the bar sees it. It was over so quickly.

“The defendant went there hoping to put it behind him and to use his words: ‘Let’s move on’. This is one act of violence in a one-off situation.”

in February, 2016 Emlick was fined £700 at Perth Sheriff’s Court for hurling threats at ex Jaime Duffin, 39, who he wanted to abort their daughter Gracie, born in May, that year.

Afterwards Emlick said: “I have known Marcus Watson as a friend and business partner for over twenty years.

“What started as a disagreement over my lost investment in Adoreum Partners has unfortunately escalated into an argument and a momentary loss of control on my part, which I very much regret and for which I apologise completely.”

The court declined to make a restraining order prohibiting Emlick contacting Mr. Watson or award any compensation.

Drink-Drive Woman Had Young Child With Her

Camberwell Green Magistrates Court

A woman was caught drink-driving at over twice the limit with a young child in her car.

Marguerita Doyle, 42, of Navarre Road, Brixton has been banned from the roads for nearly two years by magistrates who expressed concern for the youngster in her care.

She pleaded guilty to driving a black Citroen in Ackerman Road, Brixton on December 28, last year with excess alcohol in her breath and being drunk in charge of a child, aged under seven years-old, on the same occasion.

Camberwell Magistrates Court heard Doyle had 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Sentencing had been adjourned until today for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service.

“We have serious concerns about the activities you have displayed before us,” the bench chairperson told Doyle. “You say you are better now.”

She was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes thirty-five days rehabilitation and a ninety-day alcohol abstinence requirement.

Doyle was also disqualified from driving for twenty-two months and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

“We have thought hard with this child in the forefront of our minds,” the chairperson told her. “We came close to use sending you into custody, you jeopardised this child when you were in drink.”