A millionaire scrap dealer accused of hoarding the proceeds of the infamous Hatton Garden heist has been spared jail for spitting blood into a police officer's face after he shouted racial slurs at a bouncer.

In March this year Charles 'Chick' Matthews denied doing business with Terry Perkins, a family friend who was jailed for seven years over the 2015 diamond heist.

The 55 year-old was acquitted of any wrong doing by a jury, which accepted he was unaware the £50,000 of Perkin's jewels found in the ceiling of his office during a police raid were stolen.

Months before he stood trial at Southwark Crown Court however, Matthews launched a brutal physical and verbal attack on a bouncer and police officer at an Ascot pub.

Sentencing at Reading Crown Court on November 23, Judge Ian Grainger said: "You had spent the day at some golf event drinking hard. You then went with your partner to the Stag Pub.

"By 10.20pm the staff decided you were too drunk to be served."

When asked to leave, Matthews hurled expletives at security guard Mohammed Riaz before knocking him into garden furniture.

The scrap metal business owner, who lives in a five-bedroom mansion in Virginia Water, was then taken to the ground after calling Mr Riaz a P***.

Still struggling and swearing, Matthews spat blood into the nose and mouth of a police officer as he made the arrest.

Judge Grainger continued: "You injured yourself getting into the van. These were attack on people that provide public services.

"You have got yourself into that pickle as you were totally drunk and you should be totally ashamed."

Matthews, who committed two public order offences in 1995, was sentenced to 18 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and made to pay £1,965 in costs and compensation after admitting offences including racially aggravated assault and assault on a police officer.

Jack Tolbert, mitigating, said: "He does not put it forward as an excuse but he went to a sporting event. He had had too much to drink."