Nigella Lawson was left in tears after her husband, the art collector and dealer Charles Saatchi, violently grabbed her by the throat following a heated argument at the couple's favourite London eatery. Photographs from the incident have since been published online by The Mirror.

Lawson and Saatchi were eating at Scott’s in Mayfair, a restaurant the couple regularly visit and sit outside, when the pair began to argue, before Charles absolutely flipped and hurled a number of insults at the TV cook before grabbing her by the throat four times. A powerless and terrified Nigella sat in shock as she endured the advances of her husband of 10-years and nodded intently when she was being yelled at by her husband. The attack came after the pair had finished their meal at the popular seafood establishment, by the end of which Nigella was clearly distressed and on the brink if tears, finally breaking down when she left the eatery.

The appalling attack by 70-year-old Saatchi has placed some weighty question marks over their 10-year marriage, with the argument clearly seen by a number of on-lookers who all claim the attack was a extreme as it sounds. "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," said one on-looker, whilst another went on to tell The Mirror, “Nigella was very, very upset. She had a real look of fear on her face. No man should do that to a woman. She raised her voice and got angry but at the same time was trying to calm him down, almost like you would try to calm down a child."

Following the attack, which Saatchi claims was nothing more than a "lover's tiff," the art dealer handed himself into a nearby police station where he was cautioned. Lawson has reportedly moved out of their London home with their teenage children on a temporary basis whilst things are resolved. Whatever happens, it's doubtful these things will be resolved soon.

Nigella Lawson Book Signing
Nigella was left clearly shaken after the attack

Lawson Saatchi Taxi
Sources close to the pair have said that their marriage has been under increasing strain