'I own this road, I can do what I want’: Former billionaire property tycoon hurled racist abuse at a bin man who blocked the path of his shiny Bentley outside his exclusive club, court hears 

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Simon Halabi, 58, allegedly shouted 'f*** off out the way you black c***' at Carl Thomas when the garbage truck stopped in the middle of the road to pick up rubbish bags in London's Mayfair

A former billionaire property tycoon screamed racist abuse at a bin man for blocking the path of his gleaming Bentley outside an exclusive private members' club, a court heard.

Simon Halabi, 58, allegedly shouted 'f*** off out the way you black c***' and swung punches and kicks at Carl Thomas when the bin lorry stopped in the middle of the road to pick up rubbish bags in London's Mayfair.

Halabi, who was once Britain's 12th richest man before declaring bankruptcy in 2010, also branded the 47 year-old West Indian a 'monkey' and a 'peasant' before shouting 'I own this road, I can do what I want', it is claimed.

And when a black passer-by tried to intervene, Halabi called him a 'f***ing monkey' as well, it is claimed.

Southwark Crown Court heard Halabi was driving back to his palatial pad in Berkeley Square when the rubbish truck stopped in Hay's Mews at around 11.40pm on 23 February 2015

Halabi honked his horn at Mr Thomas and then rushed out of his Bentley, throwing punches and hurling 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.

'And Mr Halabi said to him: 'F*** off out the way you black c***.'

'He said that repeatedly, 'black c***'.

'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, Halabi said 'you're a f****** black c***, a monkey on my street' as well as the word 'peasant'.

Mr Jenkins said: 'A black passerby tried to intervene and the defendant called him a f***** monkey as well.'

Police arrested both men at the scene but released Mr Thomas after he was questioned.

Mr Jenkins said: 'Even when the police were there he was still calling Mr Thomas a black c*** and when he was eventually arrested he said I have been assaulted, I have a cut lip and I'm being arrested because of that f****** black c***.'

Simon Halabi, 58, (pictured with his estranged wife Urte Halabi) allegedly shouted 'f**k off out the way you black c**t' at Carl Thomas when the bin lorry stopped in the middle of the road to pick up rubbish bags in Mayfair

Halabi admitted using racial language but 'he was trying to persuade police officers during the interview that it wasn't really racist'.

'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,' said Mr Jenkins. 

Mr Thomas told the court pulled up in the middle of Hay's Mews at 11.40pm when he heard a 'bang' and thought there was a problem with the tailgate on his white box van.

The self-employed recycling collector said there was room for others cars to pass him as he quickly got out of his van and picked up a few bags of rubbish next to Annabel's private members' club.

But he claims Halabi 'honked his horn' in his Bentley as he walked back to the vehicle.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, he said: 'I said to him it's residential and it's late you're not meant to blow your horn.

'He was coming out of his motor but before he came out he started using swear words.'

Mr Thomas sobbed and struggled to talk through the tirade of racial abuse he says Halabi hurled at him.

Judge Haws said: 'We are quite used to hearing, I'm afraid, all manner of words used in this court - may I just encourage you to say what was said?'

Mr Thomas composed himself and continued: 'The guy was calling me a black c***.'

Mr Jenkins said: 'Was he saying anything else besides calling you a black c***?'

Mr Thomas said: 'He was in a rage as he was calling me these names, he was calling me a black monkey and punching and kicking.'

He told jurors Halabi got out of his car 'very lively', adding: 'He was calling me a black c*** and then he started saying get out of the way you black monkey.'

Mr Thomas said he was able to parry Halabi's punches with his hands but said the former billionaire kicked him three or more times near his groin.

'I was telling him repeatedly to stop and I don't want to fight him but he just wouldn't,' he said.

'He was repeatedly saying to me that this is his road and he can do what he wants and I shouldn't come here. He said I should f*** off.'

The court heard the female passenger with Halabi 'tried to stop him' but the businessman told her to call the police.

Mr Thomas said he began to record Halabi on his phone, adding: 'I'm not going to run off and then the police think I've done something.'

When the woman realised the bin man was recording the incident she grabbed his phone and threw it to the floor, it was said.

Halabi 'honked his horn' as Mr Thomas picked up a few bags of rubbish next to Annabel's private members' club, pictured in file image

Mr Thomas said he picked the phone up and later played the recording for officers who released him after hearing it.

Asked about the impact of the alleged offences, he said: 'Mister, I tell you this: I have never faced anything in my entire life, all my years, this has affected my family, this effected me emotionally... My missus at the time we was trying for a baby and because of this, she couldn't understand, I was just not there.'

He continued: 'It has had a tremendous effect on me. I couldn't sleep, I had to go to my doctor's and [he] gave me some tablets but he said to me Carl we can only give you so much.' 

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, central London, wore a tailored black suit with a white shirt in the dock.

He denies one count of racially aggravated assault and one count of assault.

The trial continues.