Dragons Den entrepreneur admits his TV story was fake, but denies stealing recipe from former best friend Tony Bailey

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

The Reggae Reggae sauce entrepreneur Levi Roots has admitted that he lied on Dragons' Den when he claimed that the recipe had been handed down by his grandmother.

Roots denied that he stole the recipe from his former best friend Tony Bailey, who claims it was his secret recipe that was taken on to the BBC programme in 2007, the high court has heard.

Roots said his sauce's story was fake but denied being a "barefaced liar".

He said he had come up with the sauce himself, and had pretended to have sold it for 15 years as a "marketing ploy".

Roots, 53, has since made millions from the Reggae Reggae brand, which includes recipe books, nuts and crisps.

He is being sued for more than £600,000 by Bailey, with whom he ran a jerk chicken stall at the Notting Hill carnival for 15 years, and Sylvester Williams, a financial adviser. They claim breach of confidence, over the sauce recipe, and breach of contract.

Bailey, 52, says he created the sauce in Jamaica in 1984, and even came up with the name. But Roots said the name came to him in a "eureka moment".

Ian Glen, QC, representing Bailey, said: "You're a barefaced liar, aren't you, Mr Roots."

Roots replied: "I disagree with that."

The court heard how Roots had written to Sainsbury's and had received a promising response from them. After he won a £50,000 investment on the TV show, Sainsbury's snapped up the sauce.

Glen accused him of using "deception" to get the shopping giant to invest.

Roots said: "I was promoting the sauce. I was just trying my best to promote the sauce in the best way possible. I didn't think they would use the story, but it would be about the taste."

He said the sauce came from a basic recipe, and that Bailey and Williams have no rights in the sauce or the business.

The hearing continues.