By Ryan Kisiel
PUBLISHED 01 00 EST 17 June 2013 UPDATED 02 59 EST 17 June 2013
Even for a couple whose relationship is said to be volatile the pictures are shocking.
Sat at their favourite Mayfair restaurant Charles Saatchi repeatedly grabs his wife Nigella Lawson by the neck.
At one point the TV cook seems to plead with her 70 year old husband as he holds her throat and her eyes widen. Later it was claimed she left the restaurant in tears.
Shocking pictures Sat at their favourite Mayfair restaurant Charles Saatchi repeatedly grabs his wife Nigella Lawson by the neck
The couple were seen outside Scott's restaurant in Mayfair London. The Metropolitan Police said that although no official complaint had been made by Miss Lawson officers were 'aware' of the pictures
Yesterday the pair declined to comment after they left their converted brewery home separately by taxis. However police revealed that they were likely to question them about the incident.
The Metropolitan Police said that although no official complaint had been made by Miss Lawson officers were aware of the pictures and inquiries are in hand to establish the facts of the incident .
This means Mr Saatchi is almost certain to be questioned by detectives within weeks about exactly what took place in the restaurant.
Distressed The couple have words before Mr Saatchi reaches up (left) to Nigella. Her eyes widen (right) as Mr Saatchi maintains his grip around her throat
The food writer looked emotional as she sat with her husband and pictured left clutched his hand with hers
The apparent assault is said to have put huge strain on their ten year marriage his third and her second. A witness was quoted in a Sunday newspaper as saying It was utterly shocking to watch.
I have no doubt she was scared. It was horrific really. She was very tearful and was constantly dabbing her eyes. Nigella was very very upset.
'It was utterly shocking to watch. I have no doubt she was scared. It was horrific really'
Witness
She had a real look of fear on her face. And yet she kissed him. She appeared to be a woman who loves him but was clearly unable to stop him being abusive frightening and disrespectful to her.
Neighbours of the couple also spoke of their volatile relationship. One said they had previously heard the pair having a bitter argument loudly in the street.
But the neighbours dismissed talks of a split saying they had been spotted walking happily hand in hand during the weekend.
One said They re both characters and if they did this I m sure they made up straight away as I ve seen them together looking happily recently.
'Volatile' He moves closer and seems to raise a second hand (left) to the TV cook. Miss Lawson seems to pull away (right) as her husband clutches her hand
They argue in the streets and are volatile at times but that could just be their form of passion. Those pictures do look unpleasant though.
The couple who are thought to be worth 128million had just finished eating outdoors at their favourite seafood restaurant Scott s last Sunday when Mr Saatchi is reported to have started a heated and angry exchange with his wife.
Miss Lawson 53 looked tearful as he grabbed her neck four times first with his left hand and then both.
The 70 year old art tycoon tweaked his 53 year old wife's nose as they sat at the table facing each other
During an attempt to reconcile Ms Lawson leaned over the table and kissed her husband's right cheek
As he held her neck they clutched hands across the table before Mr Saatchi tweaked her nose and used both wrists to push her face.
Afterwards Miss Lawson dabbed her tearful eyes in a napkin as he tapped his cigarettes impatiently upon the table.
She then gulped a whole glass of wine before appearing to attempt to pacify him with a trembling voice. During the attempted reconciliation she leaned over the table and kissed his right cheek.
A tearful Nigella dabbed her eyes with a napkin as both she and her husband appear upset
Miss Lawson wiped her eyes as her husband tapped his cigarettes against the table. It is not the first time the couple have been seen arguing publicly
Mr Saatchi rested his head in his hand while his wife appeared to be emotional and leaned in to talk to him
Mr Saatchi who helped mastermind former prime minister Margaret Thatcher s election campaigns then marched off from the table before his wife followed while wiping away her tears.
It is not the first time the couple have been seen arguing publicly but the first that has apparently involved him manhandling her.
Miss Lawson has recently spent a lot of time travelling across the US promoting her new book and successful television series.
The couple live in a 12million former 18th century brewery and gas engineer works that they have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds converting since they bought the seven bedroom home in 2010.
Nigella Lawson looked tearful as her husband left the table they were sitting at and walked away
'Look of fear' Miss Lawson looks emotional and wipes away tears after the incident in central London
A sombre looking Mr Saatchi was seen walking away from the restaurant with his hands in his pockets with his wife following afterwards
Miss Lawson has two children Cosima 19 and Bruno 17 with her husband John Diamond who she met while they worked at The Sunday Times.
She moved in with Mr Saatchi who was a friend of her first husband nine months after he died of throat cancer aged 41 and shortly after her debut cooking television show Nigella Bites aired.
Bruno yesterday helped his mother into a black taxi before Mr Saatchi left in another cab shortly afterwards.
Both refused to answer questions about the incident but they were photographed together at the same restaurant on Saturday.
Yesterday morning Ms Lawson and her son Bruno were seen leaving his Chelsea flat and refused to comment on the pictures
Yesterday Ms Lawson climbed inside a taxi with her son Bruno before Mr Saatchi left in another cab shortly afterwards
In a recent interview Miss Lawson revealed that she was physically abused by her mother when she was a child.
A violent and depressive woman Vanessa Salmon who married former Conservative Chancellor Nigel Lawson would lash out at her and her brother former Sunday Telegraph editor Dominic when they made too much noise she claimed.
A spokesman for Miss Lawson also declined to comment.
Domestic violence is a top priority crime in the capital and senior officers will want to investigate even without a complaint from the victim.
A Met Police spokesman said Officers are aware. Inquiries are in hand to establish the facts of the incident.
A Scott s spokesman said The staff at Scott s are aware of the allegations in the media today but did not see anything untoward happen within the restaurant. As this is now a police matter we cannot comment further.
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
Newest Oldest Best rated Worst ratedHow the hell could these 'witnesses' just sit there are watch this happen. I know people's issue are their own but there is no way he should have been allowed to do this.
Bob2sea Bristol United Kingdom 17/6/2013 07 49
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God he's old couldn't she have found someone a little closer to her age There again there's a good chance for her to have some time alone in the future
Richard Midi Pyrnes France 17/6/2013 07 48
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Any Man that lifts his hand to a Woman is not a Man at all....Nigella get out before its too late.
jonnyBgood London United Kingdom 17/6/2013 07 47
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She has all the evidence she needs to sue him to bits if it is money keeping them together. If it's love it's misplaced. How long before he goes too far Those who comment on their holding of hands throughout it's clear she is a victim and was trying to pacify him whereas those of us looking on say we would have done this and that. But I for one wouldn't tolerate a relationship like this and that's the difference.I wouldn't get involved with anyone like this and equally no man I was with would DARE to do this to me.
PSP supporter Rainham United Kingdom 17/6/2013 07 47
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Irrespective of what had gone on grabbing a woman by the throat is NOT acceptable Knowing how the UK justice system works I bet there will not be any charges laid and if they are Saatchi will no doubt employ some high faluting Liar...sorry Lawyer to get him off scot free with damages against the plod. Glad I am out of the UK.
smiffie Perth 17/6/2013 07 47
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She is not holding his hand. He is restraining her.
Elizabeth UK 17/6/2013 07 47
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You can't get the police to answer a 999 call when your house is being burgled but they're going to stick their noses into someone's personal relationship on the basis of a few photographs No one has any idea what is going on within this marriage it's none of anyone's business until one or other party makes an official complaint.
staypositive canterbury United Kingdom 17/6/2013 07 47
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People at the top of the food chain (pardon the pun) are unlikely to go to jail and giving someone a fine is small change. I haven't had faith in the justice system for years.
monty milton keynes 17/6/2013 07 46
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paula bowers.....because he will want her to hold his hand to maintain to others that he is not hurting or controlling her that she is a willing participant. My ex used to berate and hit me until his temper subsided then I was meant to hug him to show I still loved him.
bewildered lost in time United Kingdom 17/6/2013 07 46
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Nigella is talented warm engaging funny and very attractive she needs to leave this thug ASAP
Ben Toronto. Canada 17/6/2013 07 46
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