A businessman has denied spitting at and hitting his nephew in the street in a feud over the family restaurant.

Mickel Levy, 71, of Holne Chase, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court today to joining in an assault on nephew Zion Levy, 28, outside the family-owned Fiori Corner restaurant.

His son, Ariel Levy, 26, of Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood, has already admitted committing actual bodily harm by twice punching his cousin Zion in the face, leaving him with a fractured jaw, during the incident at 8am on June 28 in Cranbourn Street. He was sentenced to a comunity order last week.

Mickel is accused of joining his son in the fight by spitting at and then hitting Zion.

Appearing in the dock, dressed in a dark suit, the father pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault by beating.

Simon Cattagirone, defending, said: “He admits he was there, but he was trying to break up the fight that was going on.”

Cousins Ariel and Zion Levy are joint owners of the Fiori Corner cafe near Leicester Square.

Westminster Magistrates heard that the row started outside the restaurant while Zion was putting out tables and chairs.

Adjourning the case for trial in April, Westminster Magistrates bailed Mr Levy on condition that he does not make any contact with his nephew.

His son Ariel was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 costs on January 6 after pleading guilty to a charge of ABH.