A businessman who spat at his nephew during a dispute over a family restaurant has been given a conditional discharge by a London court.

Mickel Levy, 71, admitted assault by spitting at Zion Levy outside the Fiore Corner bistro in Leicester Square.

Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court heard that Zion had accused Levy’s son Ariel of stealing money from the business, while Ariel had threatened to close the restaurant.

The argument came to a head on June 28 last year, when Zion was confronted by Levy and Ariel outside the restaurant.

Narinder Behal, for the prosecution, told the court: “Ariel said to the victim: 'We need to talk’ and pushed him.

“The victim then walked away from Mr Levy as he did not want to get involved.

“Mr Levy approached the victim and spat in his face.

“Ariel Levy then punched the victim twice in the face, fracturing his jaw.”

Raymond Shaw, defending, told the court that Levy, of Hampstead Garden Suburb, north London, had fallen out with his brother Nissim over the running of the business.

He said: “Mr Levy was born in Iraq, and moved to Israel when he was just six years old.

“He came to England in the ‘70s, where he started a business.

“After a few years he invited his brother to join the business, and gave him that opportunity”.

Mr Shaw said the brothers had eventually handed control over to their sons, but continued to bicker over allegations of theft.

He said: “The thing that mattered most to Mr Levy, as a pillar of the community, was that his reputation was being damaged.

“People were asking him about it in the community, even as far as Israel.’

Mr Shaw said Levy was “mortified and embarrassed” over the altercation, and produced character references from a member of Parliament as well as a member of the House of Lords.

He added: “What we have here is a very messy family divorce that escalated into a fight in the street.”

Handing Levy a two-year conditional discharge, Judge Kareem Ezat told him: ‘Spitting is a disgusting thing.

‘It is deeply unpleasant for the person spat on. This court has routinely sent people to prison for it.

‘However, I am convinced that a conditional discharge would suffice.’

Levy was also ordered to pay £85 in costs, and a £15 victim surcharge, totalling £100.

Ariel Levy, of St John's Wood, north-west London, had previously admitted actual bodily harm.