Raj Dhir took pensioner Annie Saddler to court after she falsely claimed he threatened to slit her throat before church congregation

A business tycoon falsely accused of threatening to slit a church-goer's throat has won £35,000 in slander damages at the High Court.

Raj Dhir, 75, was not willing to let pensioner, Annie Saddler, get away with it after she accused him in front of a church congregation.

Anger flared because Mrs Saddler's married son, Andrew, was in an on-off relationship with Mr Dhir's daughter, Reena.

Mr Dhir and his family deeply disapproved and the falling out caused a crisis at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, in Meanwood Road, Leeds.

About 90 members of the church gathered in July 2015 to discuss the dipute.

And, in front of everyone, church member Mrs Saddler, aged in her 70s, said Mr Dhir had 'threatened to slit my throat.'

Condemning her as a 'liar' yesterday, Mr Justice Nicklin said there was no truth in the accusation.

Mr Dhir, boss of Harewood International Products LLP, had suffered serious harm to his reputation, the judge added.

A businessman has been awarded slander damages after he was wrongly accused of having threatened to slit a woman's throat before the congregation of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Leeds (pictured)

As well as having to pay him £35,000 in compensation, Mrs Saddler will now be hit with massive legal costs bills.

The judge said Andrew Saddler had been having an 'on-off relationship' with Reena since 2001.

Despite that, he married his wife, Eleanor Saddler, in 2011, although they are now separated.

'For at least part of their marriage, Mr Saddler's relationship with Reena continued,' said the judge.

The Dhir family regarded the relationship as adulterous and complained to the church.

That led to the meeting at which Mrs Saddler uttered the slanderous words.

The two families' dispute turned into a case which went all the way to the High Court in London

The judge said: 'I have come to the firm conclusion that Mrs Saddler has not proved that Mr Dhir made a threat to kill. Indeed I have come to the positive conclusion that he did not.'

He added: 'I do not need to find a reason why Mrs Saddler has lied; I simply need to be satisfied on the evidence that she has. For the reasons I have given, I am.'

Mrs Saddler had falsely accused Mr Dhir of a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment, the judge added.

'The allegation was published to 90 people at the meeting of the church on July 19 2015'.

Mr Dhir had suffered 'serious reputational harm' for which he was entitled to be compensated, the judge found.