Former billionaire property tycoon Simon Halabi ‘hurled racial abuse at bin man who boxed in his Bentley outside posh Mayfair private members club’
Simon Halabi, once Britain's 12th richest man, is accused of shouting 'I own this road, I can do what I want'
A FORMER billionaire businessman screamed racist abuse at a bin man who blocked the path of his Bentley outside an exclusive private members' club, a court heard.
Simon Halabi, 58, allegedly shouted 'f**k off out the way you black ****' at Carl Thomas when the rubbish truck stopped in the middle of the road in London's Mayfair.
Halabi – once Britain's 12th richest man before declaring bankruptcy in 2010 - branded the 47 year-old West Indian a 'monkey' and a 'peasant' before shouting 'I own this road, I can do what I want', jurors were told.
And when a black passer-by tried to intervene, Halabi hurled racist abuse at him too, the court heard.
Southwark Crown Court heard Halabi was driving back to his palatial pad in Berkeley Square when the rubbish truck stopped close to exclusive club Annabel’s at around 11.40pm on 23 February 2015.
related stories
Halabi honked his horn at Mr Thomas and then rushed out of his Bentley, throwing punches and repeatedly hurled racial abuse in a 'rage', jurors were told.
Prosecutor David Jenkins said: “[Mr Thomas] became aware that there was a parked Bentley and a driver who was in there, the defendant, behind him.
“He turned to the driver and said it's late, it's past 11pm you can't beep your horn now.
“Simon Halabi got out and walked quickly towards him. According to Mr Thomas Mr Halabi appeared to be in a rage with one of his hands raised in a fist.”
The court heard that after repeatedly shouting racist abuse, Halabi then threw a punch which Mr Thomas blocked.
Mr Jenkins added: “In relation to that he then threw a punch which Carl Thomas blocked - he's a 47-year-old West Indian, he was able to block that punch.
“But the defendant continued to throw punches. Mr Thomas pushed him away, the defendant then started to kick hum towards the groin area about four or five times.”
Jurors heard Mr Thomas told Halabi he didn't want to fight as a female passenger got out of the Bentley and asked the pair to stop.
Mr Jenkins said: “Mr Halabi said: ‘I own this road, I can do what I want, call the police.’
“The female pulled him away and Mr Thomas then pulled out his phone and started to record what was being said.”
Undeterred, jurors heard Halabi continued to racially abuse Mr Thomas as well as calling him a “peasant”.
Police arrested both men at the scene but released Mr Thomas after he was questioned.
Mr Jenkins told the court that even when arrested he continued to use racist language.
Jurors heard Halabi admitted using racial language but ‘he was trying to persuade police officers during the interview that it wasn't really racist’.
Mr Jenkins added: “His case is quite clearly 'I was hit first and I swore at him and I swore at him in those terms because he hit me.'”
Halabi amassed a property empire in the 1980s and became Britain's 14th richest man in 2007 with a value of £3billion, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
His portfolio included the Naval and Military Club in Piccadilly as well as a £25million stately home in Buckinghamshire and a £30million stake in the Shard.
But he declared bankruptcy in 2010 after he failed to repay a £56million bank loan after his assets were hit by the credit crunch.
Three years later Halabi was sued for divorce by his Lithuanian-born wife Urte and the proceedings are still ongoing at the High Court.
Halabi, of, Westminster, London, denies one count of racially aggravated assault and one count of assault.
The trial continues.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368