Showbusiness agent Mike Hollingsworth spoke outside a court of the night that ended his marriage to TV presenter Anne Diamond.

But his version of events infuriated ex-lover Harriet Scott, 26, whom he blamed for the break-up.

Hollingsworth, 52, appeared at Reading Magistrates Court and admitted failing to provide a specimen for a breath-test.

During the case, a picture was painted of Miss Scott, a DJ with Virgin Radio, as a woman who had used her brief romance with Mr Hollingsworth to achieve fame.

Sasha Wass, defending, told the court: "He was genuinely fond of her and she was fond of the publicity she gained from the relationship." The court case followed the collapse of Hollingsworth's nine-year marriage to Anne Diamond last year when he moved out of their £1.5m 14-bedroom mansion at Cuddesdon, near Wheatley.

The court heard that a row started between Hollingsworth and Miss Scott at a party at a friend's house in Reading, Berkshire, last year, after Miss Scott accused the TV executive of paying too much attention to other women.

Hollingsworth slapped Miss Scott, who was also his client, in self-defence after she flew at him, the court heard. Hollingsworth then drove to a police station, but he refused to give a breath test when challanged by officers.

The day after his row with Miss Scott he was seen with a black eye.

Miss Scott said later she was "appalled" at the accusations being levelled at her by Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth said after the hearing: "What happened cost me dearly. It dealt probably the final blow to my marriage." Hollingsworth was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £1,200 and ordered to pay court costs of £50.

Story date: Thursday 28 January

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.