A viscount’s son said his Jewish wife was a “greedy, grasping, thieving and lying criminal manipulator of the system”,  a court has heard.

Piers Portman, 50, the son of Edward, 9th Viscount Portman of Bryanston, is on trial for allegedly calling Campaign Against Antisemitism CEO Gideon Falter “Jewish scum” after he refused to shake his hand at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 14 June 2018.

The Harrow-educated aristocrat’s family owns the Portman Estate, which covers 110 acres of Marylebone in West London, including the land under Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Falter was leaving the building after a hearing for Alison Chabloz, who was facing allegations relating to antisemitism, when he was abused by Portman, it is claimed.

Portman had sent Campaign against Antisemitism a letter on 11 January 2018 which contained references to Baroness of Belgravia Fiona Shackleton’s “campaign of ritual humiliation and defamation” against him, the court heard.

The letter also referenced “the Talmud-inspired playing the victim”, Southwark crown court heard.

He also abused his own wife Tracy in the letter, stating: “I am currently married, for 13 years to a greedy, grasping, thieving and lying criminal manipulator of the system that also happens to be Jewish. 

“Lately, my wife has taken it upon herself to see her husband as an asset and owing to my disobedience, she has hired the services of the Baroness of Belgravia, Fiona Shackleton, another greedy, grasping and lying manipulator of the system that happens to be Jewish.”

The letter ended: “Can you please tell me what exactly your charity involves?

“Since when is collecting donations to force your opinion on others an act of charity?

“Why don’t you leave the poor middle-aged woman alone and come perform your charity on me?”

Mr Falter told the jury five months later he “had just walked through a Who’s Who of Holocaust deniers, Neo-Nazis, extremists’ before Portman approached him as he got out of the lift at Westminster Magistrates court.”

The campaigner told the court: “I didn’t want to give him my hand, I said: ‘I’m sorry, I can’t shake your hand, because I don’t know who you are.

“He lost his temper, he got quite aggressive.

“He said: ‘I’m Piers Portman, I’ve written to you before! Come after me you Jewish scum, come and persecute me, come and get me!’

“I felt cornered in the lift, Portman followed me, continuing what he was saying.

“Portman tried to leave and I put my arm out and said: ‘You can’t leave, wait for the police.’

Mr Falter said Portman was “very, very enraged”.

Court security then let Portman leave before police officers arrived at the scene, and was  gone when police tried to locate him.

Bespectacled Portman appeared in the dock wearing a dark bomber jacket, black jeans, and black Chelsea boots.

Portman, of The Portman Estate, Portman Square, London, denies one count of religiously aggravated harassment with intent.

The trial continues.